The primary agenda for the upcoming NATO summit will center on the increase of defense expenditures.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the summit of NATO leaders, scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7–8, will focus on defense spending and new strategic objectives.
The summit marks a historic milestone, as all member states have reached the target of allocating at least 2 percent of their GDP to defense for the first time. However, the alliance has already set more ambitious goals. During a meeting held in The Hague in June, leaders agreed to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. This allocation is planned to be divided, with 3.5 percent directed toward direct military defense and 1.5 percent dedicated to cybersecurity, infrastructure, and resilience.
Currently, the highest defense expenditures are observed in countries along NATO's eastern flank. Poland leads the alliance with a 4.48 percent allocation, having invested heavily in F-35 fighter jets, HIMARS rocket systems, and Patriot air defense systems. Baltic and Scandinavian nations have also increased their spending due to security risks along their borders with Russia and Belarus.
The United States remains the largest military power within NATO. In 2025, the U.S. defense budget is estimated at approximately $838 billion, accounting for roughly 60 percent of the alliance's total expenditures.
Turkey, which will host the summit, currently allocates 2.33 percent of its GDP to defense. With one of the largest armies in NATO, Turkey remains a vital strategic partner for the alliance due to its unique geographical position.
Background: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a political and military alliance established in 1949 to ensure collective security among its member states. The organization operates on the principle of collective defense, where an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. Summits are critical high-level meetings where heads of state and government discuss and set the strategic direction for the alliance's future.
