NATO summit turns into a multibillion-dollar defence shopping event

Industry leaders of the NATO alliance used the opening of their summit in Turkey to showcase tens of billions of dollars in defence deals, highlighting increased military spending and joint procurement efforts ahead of Donald Trump’s arrival.

The NATO summit in Ankara opened with a defence industry investment forum where allies announced major new programmes, including a commitment to invest more than $40 billion over the next five years in counter-drone capabilities.

The announcements were designed to underline that European NATO members are following Washington’s long-standing demand that allies increase defence spending and reduce their dependence on the United States for security.

Trump is expected to once again criticise NATO members for failing to contribute enough to their own defence and for continuing to rely heavily on US military capabilities.

Against a backdrop of dramatic music and professionally produced videos, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte presented a series of initiatives at the defence industry forum in Ankara, inviting representatives of member states onto the stage as the total value of announced deals was displayed on a large screen.

“We can achieve more when we do it together. And we have to do more of it,” Rutte said. “NATO allies are joining new multinational initiatives for the joint acquisition of military equipment. This will help us deliver more of the capabilities we need across different areas,” he added.

Really big deals

Mark Rutte announced that the alliance would acquire 12 Airbus A400M aircraft for its needs.

“These aircraft will provide 24/7 comprehensive and continuous surveillance of maritime areas. They will be able to fly for long periods at high altitude and will provide much better coverage, including in open sea areas,” Rute commented.

The alliance’s ability to respond to hostile drones has recently been tested after Russian unmanned aircraft repeatedly violated the airspace of NATO allies.

Several allies will jointly purchase up to 10 GlobalEye surveillance aircraft from Swedish defence company Saab in order to modernise NATO’s intelligence aircraft fleet. The deals form part of broader efforts to significantly increase defence spending across the alliance.

NATO members would purchase up to five MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance drones from US defence company Northrop Grumman. Norway, Finland, Germany and Denmark signed a letter of intent for the acquisition. The drones are expected to strengthen NATO’s ability to monitor large areas and provide persistent intelligence capabilities. “NATO is rapidly expanding its ability to deploy and use drones on a large scale. At the same time, we are building effective counter-drone capabilities that can detect, identify and neutralise drones,” Rutte said.

He also called for a “transatlantic revolution in the defence industry” and urged companies to take greater risks in their investment decisions. “Industry in all the countries represented here must be ready to take more risk. The demand is there and you know it,” he said, quoted by Reuters.

US defence company Lockheed Martin and German defence group Rheinmetall signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly produce ATACMS missiles in Germany. The agreement would mark the first production of the short-range ballistic missile outside the United States.

The move comes as NATO allies seek to expand ammunition and weapons production capacity in Europe, particularly to meet demand generated by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Possible shift on Turkey’s F-35 exclusion

Trump arrived in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, 2026, for the NATO summit, where he was greeted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with a ceremonial welcome before bilateral meetings.

In a video posted on Truth Social ahead of his visit, Trump again called on Europe to spend more on its own defence.

The summit could also mark a major shift in Washington’s position towards Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet programme.

Trump is expected to tell Erdoğan that he is prepared to allow Turkey to rejoin the F-35 programme, according to Reuters sources. Such a move would represent a significant change in US policy on an issue that has been one of the main disputes between Washington and Ankara for years.

The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey and removed it from the F-35 programme after Ankara purchased Russia’s S-400 air defence system in 2019.

Sources: Reuters, BTA

Caption: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (C) poses with NATO defense ministers and industry representatives at the NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey, 07 July 2026. The summit will take place on 07–08 July, focusing on strengthening defense industrial production and securing long-term military aid for Ukraine. EPA/FILIP SINGER