Five ideas to make the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara a success

(Atlantic Council) Fewer than a hundred days remain until the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, and allies’ attention is turning to perhaps the most important question: What will make the gathering a success? In part, this question reflects a sense of opportunity. Last year at The Hague, US President Donald Trump pressed allies to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense and defense-related expenditures by 2030. With the right agenda in Ankara, NATO could solidify and build on this achievement, further strengthening the world’s most powerful alliance in the years ahead. At the same time, a sense of unease is in the air. In the past week, Trump has criticized NATO allies for their reluctance to join the war against Iran and questioned the Alliance’s value to the United States. US officials are reportedly considering ways to punish some European allies. What would success in Ankara look like? While the summit is unlikely to produce anything as singularly significant as the 5 percent pledge, a package of agenda items could be assembled that together would mark a legacy-enhancing achievement and address several of the most pressing US concerns about the Alliance. Below, Atlantic Council experts share five ideas that could help make the upcoming NATO Summit a success. – Five ideas to make the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara a success – Atlantic Council