NATO leaders gather in Ankara for two-day summit focused on security, defence spending

The 36th NATO leaders' summit begins on July 7 at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, bringing together heads of state and government from across the alliance to discuss defence, regional security and continued support for Ukraine.

The two-day meeting is being chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and led by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. U.S. President Donald Trump is among the leaders from NATO member states and invited countries attending the summit, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Discussions are expected to focus on global and regional security challenges, including implementation of commitments made at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, where allies agreed to work toward allocating 5% of their gross domestic product to defence by 2035.

With Russia's war in Ukraine continuing, leaders are also expected to discuss ongoing support for Kyiv, particularly its need for additional air defence systems.

The meeting comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Europe and amid continued debate over the long-term role of the United States in European security. Observers say the summit could produce significant decisions affecting the alliance's future direction.

By Sabina Mammadli