The NATO Summit in Ankara wrapped up on Wednesday with President Donald Trump stalling on a decision to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey while pledging billions of dollars in new military support for Ukraine.
Trump told reporters he has not yet made up his mind on the jet sale, but he is inclined to approve it, pointing to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s support for the United States over the years. The Turkish President, who hosted the two-day gathering, called it a historic summit that laid the groundwork for a stronger alliance. He asserted that opposition from Israel and Greece to the F-35 deal has “no place” in his world.
Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors
On Ukraine, Trump announced Kyiv will receive the right to produce American Patriot missile defense systems on its own soil. He told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington would teach Ukraine how to efficiently manufacture the interceptors.
Zelensky called the meeting productive and said it focused on strengthening his country’s air defenses as Russian strikes intensify. NATO’s final declaration reaffirmed what it referred to as an “ironclad commitment” to collective defense under Article 5.
Alliance members pledged seventy billion euros (about $80 billion) in military equipment, training, and assistance for Ukraine in 2026. They also promised to sustain similar spending levels in 2027.
Trump announced NATO members will be sending minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, although no ally has confirmed the plan independently. Iran has repeatedly warned foreign navies against operating in the waterway.
Rutte praises spending push as Trump eases Syria sanctions
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump for pushing member nations to boost defense spending. He said that European allies and Canada have spent 215 billion dollars more on military hardware over the past two years and called the increase “staggering.” Rutte described the meeting as producing a strong sense of unity among members.
Trump also addressed Syria during the gathering, meeting President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines. He said that he is considering removing Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and confirmed that sanctions on Damascus have already been lifted.
Trump calls NATO Summit a success despite lingering disputes
The summit closed with Trump saying he found the two-day NATO Summit in Ankara to be quite successful, and he thanked Erdogan for organizing the event.
Separately, Lithuania announced NATO has upgraded its Baltic air policing mission into a full air defense operation, giving pilots wider authority to counter threats near Russian borders.
Disputes lingered even as the summit ended. Trump renewed his push for US control of Greenland, prompting Danish officials to once again declare that the territory is not for sale. He also threatened to cut trade ties with Spain, claiming it is a weak partner within the alliance.