NATO Summit in Ankara: Focus on Fulfilling Promises, Not Making New Ones
The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next week will be different from previous ones, focusing on implementing existing commitments rather than making new historic decisions.
A few years ago, NATO summits were where historic decisions were made – Finland and Sweden joined the alliance, new defense plans were approved, and last year in The Hague, member states agreed to allocate 5% of GDP for defense by 2035. However, the summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, Turkey, is likely to be different.
This time, the spotlight will not be on new promises, but rather on whether allies can deliver on those already made. At first glance, the summit may seem quieter – no new historic pledges or dramatic debates about admitting new members are expected. Yet precisely this could make the meeting particularly significant.
Behind the seemingly routine agenda lie several questions that will determine how prepared NATO will be for the next decade and what role Europe, the US, and also the Baltic states will play within it.
