NATO Summit Kicks Off With F-35 Debate, Billions in Defense Deals

World leaders opened the NATO Summit in Ankara this week, and the first day alone produced new defense pledges, billions of dollars in weapons deals, and a handful of unresolved disputes.

The summit has brought together the alliance’s 32 members, along with partners such as Ukraine, South Korea, and Qatar, at a time of rising pressure from Washington to boost military spending.

One of the biggest storylines to emerge was Turkey’s push to buy F-35 fighter jets. US President Donald Trump told reporters in Ankara that a decision on the sale is coming soon.

He also promised to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Washington placed those sanctions on Ankara in 2020, after Turkey bought a Russian air defense system and lost its spot in the F-35 program.

Netanyahu pushes back as NATO spending and Ukraine aid advance

Not everyone welcomed the idea. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said selling F-35s to Turkey would upset the balance of power in the Middle East. He argued that Turkey’s military ambitions make the move risky for the region.

Defense spending also dominated the agenda. New NATO figures released ahead of the summit show five member countries are on track to spend 3.5% of their GDP on core defense this year.

Some allies, though, remain far behind, spending closer to 2%. Trump renewed his pressure campaign on allies, calling NATO a “paper tiger” and arguing the alliance would struggle to survive without the United States.

Ukraine’s needs also took center stage. Norway pledged $306 million to help Kyiv strengthen its air defenses against ballistic missiles.

Denmark, Germany, and Canada joined Norway in ordering new Patriot missile systems directly from a factory in the United States.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Russia is now funneling nearly half its national budget into its war effort, and he urged allies to move faster and work together.

Greenland dispute and side deals round out NATO Summit in Ankara

Not all the tension stayed on the battlefield. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back after Trump again floated the idea of the United States taking control of Greenland. She said allies must respect Denmark’s sovereignty, and made clear the Arctic territory is not for sale.

The gathering also produced smaller wins. Britain and the Netherlands signed a $3.2 billion maritime partnership to build new amphibious ships. The United States, Japan, and South Korea agreed to a new energy cooperation framework.

South Korea’s president proposed deeper defense industry ties with the alliance. Canada kept pitching its plan for a global defense bank, though it has not yet lined up enough backers.

With the second day of the NATO summit still ahead in Ankara, questions about Turkey’s jets, allied spending, and Ukraine’s future remain unresolved.