US President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on the afternoon of July 7, 2026, for the NATO summit amid significant announcements from the alliance involving new military projects valued in the billions. President Trump, who has a history of critiquing NATO allies regarding their defence expenditures, was expected to visit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidential compound first.

On the day of Trump’s arrival, NATO presented what it termed a “big reveal,” showcasing several military initiatives. Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasised that the financial allocation was “money well spent,” intending to announce “tens of billions in new contracts that will deliver essential equipment for deterrence and defence.”

Rutte further highlighted the need for member nations to convert their economic strengths into military capabilities, seeking to invest funds into various defence technologies, including drones and missile systems. Although NATO does not possess the weapons used by its member states, it operates a fleet comprising 14 ageing AWACS early warning radar aircraft and some more modern drones.

New Military Technologies to be Introduced

A notable contract disclosed during the summit involves the replacement of the ageing AWACS aircraft. Swedish manufacturer Saab will provide up to ten new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a consortium of ten nations, as mentioned by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. He expressed pride in the development, stating that the aircraft would be “made within the alliance for all the alliance.”

Some projects are set to receive funding through a European Union system of low-cost defence loans totalling up to $170 billion from capital markets. Representatives from 15 countries also identified a collaborative effort to purchase air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft from Airbus.

Rutte subsequently revealed a cooperative plan between four nations aimed at acquiring up to five additional Triton surveillance drones to enhance NATO’s current fleet. “It is genuinely made in NATO, contributing to job creation on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added. Nevertheless, specific budget figures were not disclosed at the event, which also featured some previously agreed-upon projects.

US-Turkey Relations and Defence Negotiations

The summit has attracted renewed attention towards potential US fighter jet sales to Turkey. President Trump has hinted at possibly bringing gifts for Erdogan during his visit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently advised against selling F-35 jets to Turkey, citing Erdogan’s aggressive stance against Israel.

Turkey’s relationship with Israel is strained, exacerbated by Erdogan’s vocal accusations of genocide against Israel in relation to its military operations in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. Following Turkey’s acquisition of Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems, it was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019; however, Trump has signalled that sales could possibly resume.

Netanyahu has expressed that proceeding with such sales would significantly disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East, which is predicated on Israeli air superiority. The Israeli air force currently relies on numerous US fighter jets, including F-35s, F-16s, and F-15s.

In Ankara, security measures were enhanced, and protests were prohibited during the summit, although a small group of demonstrators was quickly subdued by police. Reports have indicated that 22 students associated with the left-leaning Turkish Workers Party, alongside three lawyers, were detained.

The overarching theme of the summit remained focused on fostering a stronger European presence within NATO, urging allies to assume greater responsibilities for regional security, particularly as the US pivots its attention towards China and the Indo-Pacific.

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