NATO Summit in Ankara: European Allies Boost Spending to Keep US in Alliance

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Merz described the summit as bringing a “new spirit” to the alliance. He argued that by boosting their own military budgets, European members can ensure the United States remains engaged and does not withdraw from its security obligations [191600]. The summit, which brings together NATO leaders in the Turkish capital, is seen as a critical opportunity to reaffirm collective defense commitments, particularly amid ongoing war in Ukraine [190367].

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on allies to provide concrete results from the summit, not a “hollow exercise,” following a deadly Russian attack on Kyiv. Zelenskyy urged NATO members to urgently supply stronger air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities and civilians, emphasizing that without tangible support, the meeting risks losing credibility [190367].

Meanwhile, a stalled peace process in Turkey has drawn renewed attention at the summit. Officials have highlighted the process as a key opportunity to address ongoing human rights abuses, though it has not yet progressed to the desired level [191012]. In Diyarbakır, Kurdish lawyers issued a declaration calling for a framework law to guide a legal transition in Turkey, arguing that any solution must be discussed directly with the parties involved [191019].

Turkey’s Constitutional Court also ruled on a long-standing case, finding a rights violation in the death of Hacı Lokman Birlik, a man who died in police custody. The ruling came 10 years and 9 months after the initial complaint. Birlik’s brother said the decision focused on his brother being dragged on the ground by police, adding, “Although the ruling is not exactly what we wanted, we view it positively” [190996].