NATO leaders have reiterated their firm commitment to the principle of collective defense as outlined in Article 5 of the alliance's treaty, according to the final statement of the summit held in Ankara, Turkey.
The statement emphasized that the security of allies is a shared priority, with European countries, Canada, and the United States shouldering a greater responsibility in enhancing NATO's defense capabilities, announcing new military purchases exceeding $50 billion.
NATO leaders also renewed their support for Ukraine, pledging military aid worth $80 billion by 2026 while maintaining at least similar levels of support through 2027.
On the Iranian issue, the alliance stressed that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon and urged Tehran to respect the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amidst growing concerns about the impact of Gulf tensions on global energy security and trade.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the summit's atmosphere as reflecting unprecedented cohesion among member states, asserting that NATO emerged from the Ankara meetings more united.
The summit also highlighted diverging views, with U.S. President Donald Trump renewing criticism of European defense spending levels, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed Berlin's commitment to doubling its defense budget in coming years.
In related news, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni emphasized that the United States had not officially informed Rome of any plans to withdraw its forces from Italian soil, amid ongoing discussions about the future of the American military presence in Europe.