NATO summit tests new defense spending pledges under Trump pressure

NATO leaders are meeting in Turkey this week as the alliance faces pressure to turn higher defense spending pledges into real military capacity. The summit in Ankara will focus on whether Europe can speed up procurement, expand production and take more responsibility for security while keeping the United States engaged. Last year, allies agreed to a 5% of GDP defense spending target by 2035, but this meeting is expected to shift the discussion from promises to implementation. Key issues include industrial bottlenecks, joint weapons production, support for Ukraine and how the alliance should adapt if Washington reduces its role over time. Ukraine is also expected to be a major topic. NATO officials and analysts say the war has highlighted the importance of drones, air defenses and domestic defense industries, and that Kyiv now offers lessons for the alliance as well as receiving support from it. Turkey, as host, is also likely to use the summit to advance its own security and procurement interests.