German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the NATO summit held in Ankara could be a turning point in the course of the Russia-Ukraine war. Merz expressed hope that the summit would revive the "Ankara spirit."
In a statement at the airport before his departure for Ankara, Merz said he expected the summit to send a strong message that preserves the alliance's transatlantic character. He pointed out that European countries need to take on more responsibility in collective defense.
Stressing that the summit is taking place at a turbulent time, Merz said, "We need a strong and united NATO as a guarantor of freedom and security." Reminding that they decided to significantly increase defense spending at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, Merz noted that they have come a long way since then.
Providing information on Germany's defense spending, Merz announced that they have raised the defense budget to 124 billion euros for 2026. "Since 2022, when Russia launched its war against Ukraine, we have doubled our defense spending. We are not making this great effort to please anyone; it is necessary for our own defense and security," he said.
Noting that the war in Ukraine will be the most important agenda item of the summit, Merz wished that the Ankara summit would be a successful meeting that strengthens European defense, reinforces transatlantic cooperation, and highlights NATO's message of unity.
Turkey is hosting a NATO summit for the second time, 22 years after the 2004 Istanbul Summit. The 36th NATO Summit, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, is of great importance due to the challenges facing the alliance and the global security architecture.
