NATO summit opens in Ankara with focus on defence spending and Zelenskyy-Trump meeting

The NATO summit in Ankara began on Tuesday with a focus on defence spending and new capabilities. The alliance announced plans to invest $40 billion in anti-drone capabilities and purchase up to ten Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft to replace its aging AWACS fleet. Additionally, Norway, Finland, Germany, and Denmark signed a letter of intent to acquire up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude surveillance drones. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said allies would work together to acquire, store, transport, and manage stockpiles of critical defence materials.

At the same time, concerns have been raised about the US defence industrial base's ability to deliver promised weapons. The US this year has delayed or cancelled deliveries of key arms to European allies, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, HIMARS, and Patriot PAC-3 missiles. These weapons are crucial for countering missile strikes in Ukraine and for the defence of Europe in a potential conflict with Russia.

The summit is expected to feature a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Paris, a French appeals court is set to rule on Marine Le Pen's appeal against a ban from holding public office, imposed last year for embezzling European Parliament funds. The ruling will determine whether Le Pen can run in next year's presidential election.

Meanwhile, explosions were reported near a hotel in Damascus, Syria, where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying. Macron is safe and did not hear the blasts, as he was already on his way to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.