Türkiye successfully hosted the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, bringing together the leaders of all 32 NATO member states, nearly 100 ministers, 1,000 delegates, and approximately 4,800 senior diplomats, representatives of international organizations, and invited guests.
Hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the two-day summit marked the first NATO leaders' meeting held in Ankara and Türkiye's second time hosting a NATO Summit, 22 years after the 2004 Istanbul Summit.
The Presidential National Library served as the international media center, providing workspace for 1,800 people, 40 editing rooms, and extensive live broadcasting facilities. More than 2,500 journalists covered the summit, while broadcasts coordinated by TRT using 96 cameras, 18 outside-broadcast vehicles, and 26 broadcasting locations brought Ankara to audiences around the world. This broad international coverage significantly enhanced Ankara's global visibility and reinforced Türkiye's position as a premier venue for high-level international dialogue.
The summit also generated substantial economic activity in the capital. Spending on accommodation, food and beverages, transportation, retail, and other services contributed approximately TRY 900 million to Ankara's economy. The arrival of thousands of delegates, media representatives, and guests created strong demand across the tourism and services sectors, demonstrating the direct economic value of hosting large-scale international events.
The Ankara Summit Declaration placed industrial capacity, investment, and technological transformation among the alliance's central priorities. Allies announced more than USD 50 billion in new procurement commitments and agreed to expand collective manufacturing capacity, strengthen cooperation with industry, and accelerate innovation.
The declaration also emphasized reducing defense trade barriers among allies and making greater use of NATO partnerships to deepen industrial cooperation. These measures are expected to support larger and more integrated supply chains, facilitate joint production, and create a more predictable business environment for companies operating across allied markets.
These commitments build on a broader expansion in defense-related investment. European allies and Canada increased their investments in core defense capabilities by more than USD 139 billion in 2025. The decisions taken in Ankara seek to translate this additional expenditure into greater production capacity and enhanced operational capabilities while strengthening industrial resilience.
Priority investment areas identified at the summit included integrated air and missile defense, deep precision-strike capabilities, unmanned systems, advanced technologies, intelligence, space, and cyber infrastructure. Allies also agreed to develop an interoperable transatlantic digital infrastructure and expand the deployment of advanced artificial intelligence models.
Held alongside the summit, the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum brought together Allied ministers, senior officials, and representatives from more than 100 companies. Discussions focused on translating defense investment commitments into increased production, joint procurement, technological innovation, and stronger cooperation among governments, financial institutions, and industry.
Several new mechanisms were introduced to support these objectives. The NATO Front Door for Industry was launched to simplify engagement between companies and NATO, while the Strategy for Industry-NATO Cooperation established a framework for closer collaboration. The NATO Innovation Scale-Up Package was also endorsed to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of emerging technologies.
NATO also announced plans to invest more than USD 40 billion over the next five years in counter-drone capabilities under the Drone Edge initiative. In addition, a call to action was issued to leading financial institutions to increase capital flows into the defense sector, supporting companies seeking to expand production, undertake R&D, and commercialize advanced technologies.
Energy security and infrastructure resilience also featured prominently on the investment agenda. Allies announced a EUR 27 billion investment to modernize NATO's fuel storage and distribution infrastructure and develop new facilities, including pipelines extending toward the alliance's eastern flank.
The successful organization of the summit demonstrated Türkiye's institutional capacity, advanced infrastructure, and extensive experience in hosting major international events. Comprehensive preparations covering transportation, accommodation, communications, media services, and event coordination enabled the summit to proceed smoothly while ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of daily life in the capital.