Leaders of NATO’s 32 member countries are meeting in Ankara on July 7 and 8 at a time of growing tension over defense spending, American military support for Europe and the future responsibilities of European allies.
The summit brings together United States President Donald Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and leaders from across Europe, including representatives of Balkan member countries such as Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia. NATO says the meeting will review progress since the 2025 summit and establish the alliance’s priorities for the coming period.
Much of the attention is focused on Trump’s demand that European countries take greater responsibility for their own security. His administration has called for higher defense spending and has begun reviewing the American military presence in Europe, creating uncertainty among some allies about the long term role of the United States.
At the previous NATO summit, members agreed to work toward spending 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense and related security measures by 2035. European leaders are expected to use the Ankara meeting to show that they are increasing investment and strengthening military production.
Tensions have also grown over the conflict with Iran. Trump has criticized European allies for what he considers insufficient support, while European officials have argued that they were not properly consulted before American military action began. Officials expect the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its effect on international trade and security to be discussed in Ankara.
Another important issue is support for Ukraine. NATO members are expected to reaffirm military assistance, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending a dinner with alliance leaders and is expected to hold separate talks with Trump. However, Ukraine is not participating as a full member of the summit.
Despite reports of serious disagreements, NATO leaders are also expected to confirm their commitment to collective defense. Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, an attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.
The summit will also focus on expanding weapons production and improving cooperation between the defense industries of member countries. Major procurement and investment agreements are expected to be announced during a defense industry forum held alongside the meeting.
For Macedonia and other Balkan NATO members, the discussions are significant because decisions about defense spending, American military involvement and regional security can directly affect national budgets and security policies.
The Ankara summit is therefore expected to test the alliance’s ability to manage internal disagreements while maintaining unity. Although tensions are considerable, there has been no confirmed indication that NATO is formally breaking apart.
