NATO Summit in Ankara: allocation of 5% of GDP for defense, the main test imposed on allies by the USA

The NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled for July 7-8, will focus on assessing the commitment made last year in The Hague to allocate 5% of GDP for defense.

The American ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated that some countries, such as Spain, do not meet this target, and President Trump expects an intensification of efforts. Whitaker said that the summit will reaffirm previous commitments regarding military capabilities. It will also discuss the rules of European defense programs, with an emphasis on avoiding protectionism that excludes allies outside the EU.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of defense industrial capabilities and mentioned that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, expecting substantial commitments from other countries in this regard. The summit will include a NATO-Ukraine meeting, where new arms supply contracts and increased arms production are anticipated. President Zelensky will lead the Ukrainian delegation at the summit.