Summary
Bloomberg's Oliver Crook reports from Ankara ahead of the 2026 NATO summit. He highlights Trump's success in pushing allies to commit to 5% GDP defense spending, the expected wave of procurement announcements, and ongoing tensions between Trump and some European leaders. The summit will also feature a critical meeting between Trump and Ukraine's Zelensky, who seeks renewed US engagement and air defense support amid a shortage of missile interceptors.
- NATO allies committed to 5% GDP annual defense spending at last year's summit, a Trump foreign policy win.
- Leaders will announce tens of billions in new procurement contracts and defense commitments.
- Tensions persist between President Trump and German Chancellor, as well as with Italian PM Meloni.
- Trump pulled US troops out of Germany after the Chancellor's criticism of his Iran approach.
- Zelensky will meet Trump to lobby for US re-engagement and military support against Russia.
- NATO Secretary General Rutte warns the alliance lacks sufficient missile interceptor capacity.
- Ukraine's air defenses are critically low, allowing Russian ballistic missiles to hit targets.