The renaissance of NATO?

The NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 7-8, 2026, did not deliver many surprises, but it produced some satisfactory results for the future of the alliance.

The North Atlantic Alliance, established during the Cold War, was designed to contain Soviet aggression. After the Soviet Union collapsed, many believed the alliance had outlived its purpose, yet it persisted. European nations had largely de-emphasized defense spending (some were close to abandoning it altogether), and while they participated in operations such as the war in Afghanistan, their involvement remained limited. This created growing shortfalls in both equipment and personnel. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its occupation of large parts of Donbas dramatically altered Europe’s security landscape. This was not yet sufficiently recognized, either by politicians or the public, and the willingness to engage in defense remained low.

A long-awaited wake-up call

In fact, 2007 was already a critical year. On the one hand, European leaders blocked then-United States President George W. Bush’s push to bring Ukraine into NATO. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin – who had been viewed as a friend of the West until that point – declared Moscow’s intention to reclaim its status as a major power.

In 2014, the West sought to influence the composition of the Ukrainian government, but it was also reluctant to engage militarily in eastern Ukraine. The Obama administration compounded the problem by dismissing Russia as merely a regional power, fostering the perception that the conflict was of limited importance. European leaders believed sanctions would suffice and took no meaningful steps to bolster defense capabilities.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 served as a true wake-up call. Yet European countries remained timid in their defense efforts until President Donald Trump’s direct statements finally roused the continent.

Those statements from the White House proved essential. President Trump faced criticism for suggesting the U.S. might withdraw from NATO and for insisting the alliance would become ineffective without greater European commitment. Yet his remarks should be recognized as a constructive contribution. They renewed focus on European defense, building on French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2019 description of NATO as “brain-dead.”

Turkiye’s central role

The Ankara summit highlighted two key realities: Europe needs Turkiye’s capable and powerful military to secure its southeastern flank against Russia. And with a few exceptions such as Spain, most European members were prepared to reaffirm the importance of the transatlantic relationship.

Europe needs Turkiye’s capable and powerful military to secure its southeastern flank against Russia.

 

There was no major drama of the kind many had feared. Nevertheless, President Trump made bold statements, including a reiteration of his interest in U.S. control of Greenland. As was clearly stated in Davos, Washington will continue to back European defense, but only if the Europeans put in enough effort. President Trump clearly recognized Turkiye’s pivotal role in the alliance, which eased concerns over its past acquisition of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Other Europeans recognized that NATO needs to acknowledge Turkiye’s vital and solid role in the alliance while also considering its differing interests in the Middle East compared to those of the West.

Overall, the NATO summit was widely regarded as a success, thanks largely to meticulous preparations in Ankara. The outcome reflected a renewed appreciation of the transatlantic alliance and an acknowledgment of Turkiye’s critical role within NATO and its stabilizing power in the Middle East.