Ankara, July 7 (SANA) NATO leaders meeting in Ankara on Tuesday announced major arms deals to demonstrate the alliance’s readiness to strengthen its defensive capabilities and meet Washington’s demands for increased military spending, while also pledging $140 billion in support for Ukraine, according to statements from alliance officials cited by Reuters and Anadolu Agency.
Arms deals and defense industry push
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte unveiled new initiatives during the Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, calling for a radical restructuring of the defense industry and warning that the security situation does not allow delaying the strengthening of Europe’s defensive capabilities, according to Reuters.
Rutte said NATO members will invest more than $40 billion over five years to enhance their defenses against drones, amid Trump’s repeated criticism of Europe for its weak defense contributions and reliance on the United States.
The announced deals include the purchase of drones from US-based Northrop Grumman and aircraft from Sweden’s Saab, while the United States is in talks with Germany and other countries to establish joint production lines for missiles needed for Ukraine.
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed a preliminary agreement to produce ATACMS missiles in Germany for the first time outside the United States.
$140 billion pledge for Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced that NATO leaders are committed to providing $140 billion in financial and military support to Ukraine to cover 2026 and 2027, according to Anadolu Agency.
“We can pledge 140 billion euros to Ukraine for 2026 and next year, through contributions from Europe and Canada alone, and this will be a very strong signal of support for Ukraine,” Wadephul said in a radio interview ahead of the summit.
Wadephul stressed that the impact of Western military and financial support has become tangible and clear on the ground, and called for increasing international pressure to force Moscow back to the negotiating table.
Internal tensions and transatlantic strains
Tensions within the alliance have escalated since the start of the US-Israeli-Iranian war, with Trump accusing some European countries of not providing sufficient support, while European officials say they allowed the use of their bases and airspace despite not being consulted on a war that has affected their economies, according to Reuters.
Washington has announced the withdrawal of troops from Europe and begun a review of its military presence, while Europeans are preparing for the possibility of Trump repeating his criticism during the summit, amid strained relations with some European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The 36th NATO Summit is being held in Ankara on July 7-8, hosted by Türkiye, and gains significant importance amid challenges facing the alliance and the global security architecture. The summit comes as NATO faces internal divisions over defense spending commitments, with some members falling short of the 2% GDP target.
The US-Israeli-Iranian war that broke out in February has tested transatlantic unity, with the US pressing European allies to increase their defense contributions while also reducing its own military footprint in Europe. The war disrupted global energy markets through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting European economies heavily dependent on energy imports.
KhA / Mzn
