NATO's Shekerinska Sets 3 Ankara Summit Priorities, Urges More Defense Investment
Updated
Updated · NATO HQ · Jun 1
NATO's Shekerinska Sets 3 Ankara Summit Priorities, Urges More Defense Investment
1 articles · Updated · NATO HQ · Jun 1
Summary
Vilnius hosted NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska as she told parliamentarians the Ankara summit will focus on combat-ready capabilities, scaling up defense industry and stronger support for Ukraine.
She framed those goals around deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank, saying forward land forces run from the Baltic to the Black Sea and allied jets protect the region’s skies.
Romania drew explicit backing after a recent Russian drone incident, underscoring NATO’s message that every inch of allied territory will be defended.
At the 2026 NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum, Shekerinska said continuous innovation is central to deterrence and pointed to Ukraine as proof, while appearing alongside EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius in a show of NATO-EU coordination.
With the US role changing, will Europe's new defence ambitions strengthen or fracture the NATO alliance?
After a drone hit a NATO city, what will it take to truly defend Europe's eastern flank?
Can NATO's legacy industry transform fast enough for the new era of high-intensity warfare?
NATO’s 2026 Ankara Summit: Defense Investment, Ukraine Support, and Strategic Implementation
Overview
The NATO Ankara Summit, set for July 7-8, 2026, comes at a critical time as member states face growing threats from Russia, cyber-attacks, and instability in the Middle East. The summit will focus on reinforcing alliance unity and boosting collective defense capabilities by implementing defense spending commitments and increasing industrial production. Sustained support for Ukraine remains a top priority, reflecting NATO’s commitment to peace and stability. The summit also highlights the need to turn investment pledges into real military power, address internal divisions, and adapt to new security challenges, ensuring NATO stays strong in a rapidly changing world.