Chicago Council on Global Affairs Vice President of Research Ariane Tabatabai in Ankara for NATO Summit

Chicago Council on Global Affairs Vice President of Research for Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai is in Ankara, Türkiye for the 2026 NATO Summit.

The July 7-8 summit marks the first gathering of NATO heads of state and government since last year's meeting in The Hague, where allies committed to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP to meet the Trump administration’s demands. Discussions in Ankara are expected to focus on how that commitment is being implemented, alongside continued allied support for Ukraine as Russia's war enters its fifth year.

“This summit comes at a moment when the alliance's cohesion cannot be taken for granted,” Tabatabai said. “Burden sharing dominates the conversation in Ankara, but the allies will also discuss the wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as the critical issues of defense acquisition and procurement, innovation, and integration. I look forward to engaging with counterparts on where transatlantic interests continue to align, where they diverge, and what it all means for the future of the NATO security architecture.”

Learn more about the 2026 NATO Summit at nato.int.