On July 6, 2026, ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte outlined that allies would demonstrate progress on defense commitments made the previous year. He noted European members and Canada are already spending roughly 4% of GDP on defense, aiming for a 5% target by 2035. Rutte stated that during the summit, NATO would announce major new contracts worth tens of billions of dollars for equipment necessary to strengthen deterrence. These contracts, he said, would boost economies and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. The summit will also address continued support for Ukraine, which Rutte linked to the alliance's own security.