NATO is expected to commit to new multibillion-dollar arms deals and a significant increase in military production at a summit in Ankara on July 7-8, according to five alliance diplomats who spoke to POLITICO.
Despite repeated pressure from US President Donald Trump since returning to the White House, the draft joint statement is also expected to reaffirm commitment to Article 5 on collective defense while reframing Russia as a long-term threat, the report said.
The summit will be attended by leaders of member states, including Trump, at a time of intense discussions on burden-sharing within the Alliance and European defense obligations.
According to diplomats, the final amount for the new arms contracts has not yet been finalized, while some agreements are expected to have already been prepared and be included in the overall package.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte seeks to emphasize strengthening defense industrial production, aiming to reduce internal differences and create a more coherent strategy for the Alliance.
This discussion is directly related to Europe's efforts to increase the production of large-scale weapons systems, but also to the need for political balance vis-à-vis the United States, which demands greater economic and military contributions from European allies.
At the same time, European countries and Canada have already increased their defense spending, with Rutte recently reporting that the total additional amount reached $139 billion compared to previous years, while a target for defense spending of 3.5% of GDP by 2035 has been set.
In the draft joint statement, NATO member states are expected to pledge about 70 billion euros in military support for Ukraine, as well as a similar amount next year, diplomats said. The United States is not expected to participate in the funding scheme.
The Ukraine issue is considered one of the most controversial aspects of the negotiations, although talks on the final text are generally described as calm.
In the background, the discussion on the redistribution of defense responsibility between Europe and the United States remains intense, as Washington tries to gradually change priorities.
The American side has already announced a review of its military presence in Europe, while considering reducing the availability of some critical military assets that are part of NATO's collective use.
At the same time, European countries are committed to strengthening long-range capabilities, air defense, and unmanned systems, with the aim of strengthening deterrence against Russia.
However, deep strike capabilities remain a point of tension between Washington and European allies, as the US appears cautious about further developing them, citing the risks of escalation.
At the same time, the draft declaration also includes a reference to the need to ensure freedom of navigation, as well as the position that Iran should not be equipped with nuclear weapons.
