TIRANA, July 7 – Leaders from NATO’s 32 member states will arrive in Ankara today for two days of talks on defence spending, military capabilities, and major arms procurement deals.

The summit will open with a large defence industry exhibition. The event will focus on turning rising military budgets into new capabilities and multi-billion-dollar procurement agreements.

Meanwhile, NATO members pledged last year to increase defence spending from 2% to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. They also committed an additional 1.5% of GDP for defence-related expenses. The Ankara meeting will focus on converting these commitments into concrete actions.

US President Donald Trump has continued to pressure allies over defence spending. He called their current contributions “ridiculous” days before the summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend. He will seek military aid commitments worth €140 billion ($160 billion). Zelensky will hold a meeting with Trump and request additional air defence missiles. He will also push for renewed peace talks with Russia.

NATO foreign and defence ministers will hold informal discussions during the summit. On Wednesday, leaders will meet again to discuss Europe’s role in strengthening its own defence as the United States shifts more focus toward the Pacific and other regions.

/a.p./