Executive Summary
Following Allies’ commitment in the Hague Declaration to invest 5% of their annual GDP in defence and security-related spending by 2035, this year’s NATO Summit in Ankara focused on turning that commitment into delivery. The summit aimed to build a stronger European defence and greater European responsibility within the Alliance, with Ukraine and the defence sector as central to that effort. NATO 3.0 is not about defining targets, but about implementing actionable initiatives for stronger defence capacities across Allied nations. The Alliance is turning towards effective public-private partnerships to give industry earlier visibility into capability gaps and accelerate the development of new technologies. Amid continued uncertainty over the strength of US commitment, these steps will be crucial to ensuring NATO remains capable within an increasingly volatile security environment.
Key Points
- The Summit Declaration reiterates Allied commitment to Article 5 and the necessity of collective defence in maintaining Euro-Atlantic peace and security. Ukraine is recognised as a contributor to transatlantic security, with €70 billion in assistance pledged to the country in 2026, spanning military equipment and training.
- More than €50 billion has been announced in procurement agreements, including multinational capability initiatives in key areas such as ground-based precision strike capabilities; ammunition (Generic NATO Indirect Fire Round (GENIFR)); space technologies (Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations (HALO)); and raw materials (Critical Raw Materials for Defence (CRM)).
- Other initiatives reinforce this focus on interoperability and regional cooperation. The UK-Turkey defence partnership agreement reflects their determination to institutionalise cooperation. The Freya Project, an anti-ballistic missile system for Ukraine, is being developed specifically to counter Russian ballistic missiles. NATO has also advanced other multinational programmes such as the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Initiative, as well as the NATO Drone Edge Initiative for drone defence.
- The Summit emphasised the need for a stronger partnership with the private industrial sector to counter capability gaps. NATO’s Defence Industry Forum was focused on increased public-private cooperation to accelerate the adoption of new systems in multiple key areas. These include space defence, surveillance technologies, air and missile defence capabilities, and deep strike systems.
- New financial mechanisms, such as the Multilateral Defence Mechanism, aim to facilitate investment and joint procurement. Existing NATO bodies have also been assigned new roles to accelerate implementation. The Conference of National Armaments Directors, for instance, is tasked with submitting an Implementation Plan by October 2026.
Analysis
Credibility does not solely depend on declared commitments. The Ankara Summit aimed to translate commitments into actionable results and deployable technologies that strengthen European defence capabilities. The reinforcement of public-private cooperation stands out in particular, allowing for capability gaps to be tackled earlier on in the development cycle. Multinational initiatives focused on more interoperable and cost-efficient systems also contribute to strengthening ties between European Allies and enhancing communication and collaboration with the private sector. Ukraine’s strengthened position as an active contributor to Alliance capabilities further reinforces the broader shift towards greater European responsibility within an Alliance adapting to the current security landscape.
Policy Implications
- The risk of reduced US engagement should not be understated. European defence capabilities must remain resilient should Washington’s posture evolve. Deepening cooperation with Canada, alongside European Allies, could help sustain a more durable transatlantic relationship.
- Though the aforementioned initiatives are an important step towards the strengthening of European defence systems, delivery needs to be sustained and capability development must be reinforced for that progress to be sustained.
- The emphasis on cutting-edge capabilities, such as drone defence and space-based systems, complements continued investment in conventional military capacity, reflecting the Alliance’s adaptation to a security landscape that spans both traditional and hybrid threats.
Bibliography
Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank. (2026). Perspectives from Ankara: The Security and Defence Implications of the NATO Summit. Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/standard-event/perspectives-ankara-security-and-defence-implications-nato-summit (Accessed 27 July 2026).
Ellehuus, R. (2026). The critical enablers of a more European NATO. Euractiv. Available at: https://www.euractiv.com/opinion/the-critical-enablers-of-a-more-european-nato/ (Accessed 27 July 2026).
Fenbert, A. (2026). Anti-ballistic Coalition to Meet in France to Support Ukraine’s Homegrown “Freya” Air Defense Project. The Kyiv Independent. Available at: https://kyivindependent.com/anti-ballistic-coalition-to-meet-in-france-to-support-ukraines-homegrown-freya-air-defense-project/ (Accessed 28 July 2026).
HM Treasury. (2026). Joint statement from member countries of the Multilateral Defence Mechanism. GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-member-countries-of-the-multilateral-defence-mechanism (Accessed 27 July 2026).
Lungescu, O. (2026). NATO 3.0 to Emerge at Ankara Summit Amid Fragile Unity. RUSI Available at: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/nato-30-emerge-ankara-summit-amid-fragile-unity (Accessed 25 July 2026).
NATO. (2026). Delivering capabilities through multinational cooperation. Available at: https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/deterrence-and-defence/multinational-capability-cooperation#iamd (Accessed 26 July 2026).
NATO. (2026). Secretary General on the Ankara Summit: NATO Delivers. Available at: https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/07/08/secretary-general-on-the-ankara-summit-nato-delivers (Accessed 2 August 2026).
NATO. (2022). Strategy for Industry-NATO Cooperation. Available at: https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2026/07/08/strategy-for-industry-nato-cooperation (Accessed 26 July 2026).
NATO. (2026). The Ankara Summit Declaration. Available at: https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2026/07/08/the-ankara-summit-declaration (Accessed 7 August 2026).
Potera, N.A. (2026). NATO Summit in Ankara: Defence Deals Worth $50 Billion. Available at: https://defence24.com/defence-policy/nato-summit-in-ankara-defence-deals-worth-50-billion (Accessed 27 July 2026).
Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street, and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP (2026). Joint statement regarding the security and defence partnership between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Türkiye. GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-regarding-the-security-and-defence-partnership-between-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-and-the-republic-of-tu (Accessed 30 July 2026).
Seskuria, N., Ellehuus, R., Ozcelik, D.B. and Lungescu, O. (2026). Episode 124: After Ankara: First Reflections on the 2026 NATO Summit. RUSI. Available at: https://www.rusi.org/podcasts/global-security-briefing/episode-124-after-ankara-first-reflections-2026-nato-summit (Accessed 25 July 2026).