Key questions remain despite show of unity in NATO declaration

ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) – NATO leaders concluded their summit in the Turkish capital on Wednesday with a declaration projecting unity against Russia, reaffirming support for Ukraine and unveiling major plans to strengthen the Alliance’s defence industry.

Yet beneath the strong language on collective security, the Ankara Summit Declaration leaves several important questions unanswered, reflecting continuing differences among the Alliance’s 32 members.

The nine-point declaration repeatedly stresses NATO’s commitment to collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and describes Russia as a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security. It also announces more than $50 billion in new defence procurements, promises to expand manufacturing capacity, and commits Allies to removing barriers to defence trade.

However, compared with previous summit declarations, the Ankara document is notable as much for what it omits as for what it includes.

Perhaps the most significant omission is the absence of a direct commitment by all member states to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.

The Hague summit last year placed heavy emphasis on the ambitious spending target, which was strongly backed by the United States. The Ankara declaration, however, merely states that Allies are “delivering on The Hague defence commitment” without repeating or reaffirming the 5 percent benchmark.

The softer language comes after several European governments openly questioned whether such a target was financially or politically sustainable.

Spain emerged as one of the strongest critics, arguing that increasing military spending to that level would require substantial reductions in funding for healthcare, education, pensions and other social programmes. Similar concerns have been expressed by several other European governments already struggling with slow economic growth, rising debt and domestic budget pressures.

Diplomatic observers say the wording of the declaration appears to reflect a compromise designed to preserve Alliance unity while avoiding renewed public divisions over defence spending.

Rather than highlighting percentages, the declaration points to tangible increases in military investment, noting that European Allies and Canada increased spending on core defence requirements by more than $139 billion in 2025.

Defence industry takes centre stage

The Ankara summit places unusual emphasis on defence production and industrial capacity.

Leaders announce more than $50 billion in new defence procurements and pledge to expand collective manufacturing while accelerating innovation through closer cooperation with industry.

The declaration also promises to eliminate defence trade barriers among Allied countries.

Although the commitment could have important implications for NATO’s defence market, the declaration provides no details about how such barriers will be removed or what restrictions are being targeted.

The issue is particularly significant for Türkiye, which has faced years of export restrictions, licensing delays and procurement obstacles from several NATO partners over defence equipment and dual-use technologies.

Whether Ankara’s long-standing concerns will be addressed under the new commitment remains unclear.

The declaration offers no implementation mechanism, timetable or definition of what a defence trade barrier is.

AI and advanced warfare

The declaration also illustrates how NATO’s strategic priorities are evolving beyond conventional military capabilities.

Alongside nuclear deterrence and conventional forces, the Alliance commits itself to investments in integrated air and missile defence, deep precision strike capabilities, uncrewed systems, cyber capabilities, intelligence and cutting-edge technologies.

For the first time, leaders announce plans to develop an interoperable transatlantic warfighting cloud supported by powerful artificial intelligence models.

The language reflects NATO’s growing focus on future warfare, where digital infrastructure, AI and autonomous systems are expected to play an increasingly central role.

Long-term commitment to Ukraine

Support for Ukraine remains one of the declaration’s central themes.

The document says European Allies and Canada now provide the majority of military assistance to Kyiv and have pledged €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training in 2026.

It also states that Allies intend to maintain at least equivalent levels of support in 2027.

The declaration welcomes the European Union’s decision to provide multi-year financial assistance to Ukraine through its Ukraine Support Loan programme, signalling that NATO members increasingly view support for Kyiv as a long-term strategic commitment rather than an emergency response.

Iran mentioned

Iran receives only a brief reference in the declaration.

NATO leaders reiterate that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and call on Tehran to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement comes after recent attacks on commercial shipping and heightened tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.

However, the declaration does not explain how NATO intends to ensure freedom of navigation if attacks on commercial vessels continue or if Iran proceeds with proposals to impose transit levies on shipping using the Strait.

The absence of operational details leaves uncertainty over whether NATO envisages additional maritime deployments, diplomatic initiatives or other measures to secure international shipping routes.

Missing reference to NATO’s fuel supply chain

Another notable omission concerns military logistics.

During the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Allies had agreed to establish a NATO fuel supply chain involving new investments and pipeline infrastructure designed to improve military mobility and logistical resilience across Europe.

Such a project could become one of the Alliance’s largest infrastructure initiatives in decades, particularly as NATO strengthens its eastern flank and prepares for sustained high-intensity operations.

Yet despite its potential strategic significance, the initiative is not mentioned anywhere in the final declaration.

The absence suggests that discussions on implementation may still be at an early stage or that member states preferred to separate operational projects from the political communiqué.

Silence over the next summit

Perhaps the most unusual omission concerns NATO’s own calendar.

Traditionally, NATO summit declarations conclude by announcing where the next summit will be held.

The Ankara declaration departs from that practice.

Instead, leaders simply thank Türkiye for hosting the meeting and state that they “look forward to our next meeting”.

No host country, city or date is mentioned.

While NATO officials have not explained the omission, diplomats say it may indicate that Allies were unable to reach consensus on the location or timing of the next summit before the declaration was finalised.

Although such decisions are often announced separately, their absence from the communiqué is unusual and is likely to attract attention among Alliance observers.

Unity projected, differences remain

Overall, the Ankara Summit Declaration succeeds in projecting NATO’s determination to strengthen collective defence, deepen industrial cooperation and sustain long-term support for Ukraine.

At the same time, its cautious wording on defence spending, lack of clarity on removing defence trade barriers, limited treatment of maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and silence on the next summit illustrate the political compromises still required to maintain consensus within an Alliance whose members face increasingly different economic pressures, security priorities and domestic political realities.

The declaration therefore presents a picture of a NATO that remains united on its broad strategic objectives but continues to negotiate the practical details of how those ambitions will be achieved.