Ankara: When NATO leaders gather in the Turkish capital on July 7 for a pivotal two-day summit, defense spending will dominate the agenda. For the first time since the 2% GDP benchmark was established at the 2014 Wales summit, all 32 NATO member states have met or exceeded that threshold by 2025. However, as European allies celebrate this milestone, the target has already been raised. The June 2025 Hague Summit committed all allies to increase spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, marking a significant escalation in defense commitments.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Ankara summit will address other critical issues such as additional assistance to Ukraine, defense spending roadmaps, and the alliance's long-term strategic direction. The meeting comes amid significant internal tensions within NATO. Since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2025, the alliance has experienced an unprecedented rift between Washington and several other allies. In March, Trump publicly criticized NATO allies, labeling them "cowards" for not supporting efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the Israeli-US conflict with Iran, and dismissing the alliance as a "paper tiger" without US involvement.

The discussion on defense spending is further complicated by varying levels of compliance with the new targets among NATO members. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently urged NATO counterparts in Brussels to fulfill their commitments made at The Hague, highlighting that some allies still need to increase their contributions. The upcoming summit in Ankara is expected to shed light on the progress and challenges each member faces in meeting these heightened defense spending goals.

Poland, leading the charge with defense spending at 4.48% of its GDP, has significantly increased its military budget since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. This increase is part of a national law mandating a minimum defense spending floor of 4% of GDP. Other countries like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have also ramped up their military budgets, driven by proximity to Russia and the perceived threat from its Kaliningrad exclave.

While European nations increase their defense budgets, the US remains NATO's dominant military power, accounting for approximately 60% of the alliance's combined defense spending. Despite this, the US direct contribution to NATO's common-funded budget is only 14.9%, highlighting the ongoing tension regarding burden-sharing within the alliance.

The Ankara summit marks a critical juncture for NATO, as members navigate complex geopolitical challenges and strive to balance national defense priorities with collective security commitments. As the alliance confronts internal divisions and external threats, the decisions made at this summit will undoubtedly shape NATO's future trajectory and its role in global security.