Maintaining unity is considered the most important task for the leaders of the 32 NATO countries. The summit in Ankara must signal that the alliance, despite differing views, continues to act jointly in response to the Russian security threats facing Europe.
A central role is reserved for NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He is trying (as he did two years ago at the NATO summit in The Hague) to keep the United States closely involved in the alliance and wants to prevent disagreements from overshadowing the joint message.
Trump
The attitude of US President Donald Trump plays an important role here. His views on NATO, defense spending, and the responsibilities of European allies greatly influence relations within the alliance.
Promotion
At the same time, a conviction is growing within NATO that Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense. Therefore, further increases in defense spending and an expansion of military production capacity are high on the summit agenda.
More Weapons
Strengthening the defense industry also receives much attention. The allies want to ramp up the production of military equipment to better meet growing security needs and increase collective capabilities.
Support for Ukraine remains one of the most important topics. The European NATO countries and Canada want to continue providing long-term military and security aid. Talks include a support package of 70 billion euros for the coming years.
Russian Threat
Although European countries are taking on an increasing share of the financial responsibility, NATO emphasizes that the United States remains militarily indispensable for the defense of Ukraine. At the same time, European allies are preparing for a future in which they play a greater role in defending their own continent.
NATO also aims to maintain pressure on Russia. The allies continue to view Russia as a long-term threat to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. Therefore, the summit in Ankara is not only a meeting about new commitments but also a test of the alliance's political cohesion during a period of increasing international uncertainty.