NATO summit in Ankara sees defence deals worth $50 billion

Defence agreements worth at least $50 billion have been signed during an industry forum held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, according to the newspaper Türkiye.

The reported contracts include procurement of air defence systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as joint projects involving weapons and military equipment.

Speaking alongside the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that 20 member states would participate in the Drone Edge initiative, which предусматривает investments of $40 billion over the next five years in the production of drones and counter-drone technologies.

Rutte added that NATO countries were expected to conclude defence contracts worth tens of billions of dollars during the Ankara gathering.

The two-day NATO summit in the Turkish capital has brought together leaders from all 32 member states of the alliance. A plenary session involving heads of state and government is scheduled for July 8.

By Tamilla Hasanova