In Ankara, an alliance in transition as it grapples with new geopolitical realities

The 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, held at the Beştepe presidential complex amid exceptional security measures, was one of the alliance’s most politically charged meetings in years. Not because it deeply transformed its strategy, but because it provided an opportunity to test the alliance’s ability to maintain its cohesion in the face of shifting U.S. priorities, Europe’s growing defense responsibilities, and increasing instability in the Middle East. Whilst previous summits had been dominated by the war in Ukraine, NATO’s enlargement, and the strengthening of the eastern flank, the Ankara summit focused on the very future of the transatlantic relationship.The main concern centered on the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump, particularly regarding a possible reduction in the U.S. military presence in Europe and a strategic shift towards...