Trump Meets Zelenskyy at NATO Summit as Allies Press 5% Defense Spending Goal
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Trump Meets Zelenskyy at NATO Summit as Allies Press 5% Defense Spending Goal
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Summary
Trump entered the NATO summit’s final day in Ankara for the alliance’s only plenary session, a closely watched meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a closing press conference.
Ukraine dominated the agenda as Kyiv warned it is critically short of Patriot interceptors and said none of the ballistic missiles in a massive barrage this week were shot down.
Nearly 40 partner nations have been asked to transfer Patriots from existing stockpiles, while Germany-backed financing for hundreds more missiles will take months or years to translate into deliveries.
The summit also centers on turning NATO’s 5% of GDP defense-spending pledge into concrete military capacity, with Mark Rutte urging credible national plans and faster weapons production.
The final day follows Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey and his signal that F-35 sales could resume, even as he again questioned Europe’s burden-sharing and floated pulling U.S. troops from Europe.
Facing a potential U.S. security withdrawal, can Europe’s defense industry realistically re-arm the continent in time?
As the U.S. re-arms Turkey, can Syria’s new government balance its delicate alliances with Washington and Ankara?
NATO at a Crossroads: Ankara 2026, the 5% Defense Target, and the Shift Toward European Leadership
Overview
The Ankara Summit in July 2026 marked a turning point for NATO, as leaders gathered to assess member states’ commitment to collective defense and set new strategic directions. The summit focused on the challenge of meeting ambitious defense spending targets, with reports highlighting that while these goals are achievable, they require careful management and tough fiscal choices, such as raising taxes or reallocating resources. Recognizing that Europe’s defense buildup is now a central fiscal issue, the summit aimed to address these realities and reinforce plans for future security, making it a key moment for NATO’s unity and future resilience.