NATO Summit in Ankara: Outward Unity, Underlying Fissures (warontherocks.com)

• NATO summit held July 7-8, 2026 in Ankara
• Trump reaffirmed Article 5 after initial criticism
• Europe urged to create independent defense plan

"At the 36th NATO summit in Ankara (July 7-8, 2026), discussions centered on the wars in Ukraine and Iran and the future of European defense. Experts note that President Trump, despite initial attacks, reaffirmed Article 5. European allies view U.S. policy as volatile, but NATO's strategic logic proved resilient. Europe must develop its own plans to deter Russia without the U.S."