“Given the current security situation, the summit must send a clear message of NATO’s unity and strength. For a strong NATO, Europe must also become stronger, which means increasing defence spending and placing greater emphasis on the defence industry. At the previous summit in The Hague, we agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of the GDP. Estonia is doing just that – this year, we are already spending more than 5% of our GDP on defence. Now is the time for all of our allies to meet this target as well. The good news is that in 2025, European allies and Canada increased their defence spending by 139 billion dollars, and this growth is continuing,” Prime Minister Kristen Michal said.
He added that specific commitments are also needed regarding the long-term military support for Ukraine. “Sustainable support that meets Ukraine’s actual needs is the best way to take advantage of the current window of opportunity to strengthen Ukraine’s position and help achieve a just and lasting peace. Estonia’s clear message is also that all previous commitments made to Ukraine remain valid, including the promise that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO,” Michal emphasised.
“Given Russia’s long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security, Ankara must be a summit for delivering on previous commitments, so that the Alliance’s deterrence and defence are further strengthened,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, who added that it is also important for the summit to send a strong message regarding the allies’ continued military support for Ukraine. “Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security – today, the allies are united in the view that Ukraine is not merely a recipient of security assistance, but a clear contributor to European security, resisting Russia’s war of aggression and sharing the lessons learned from the war with its allies,” the minister stressed.
According to Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur, the focus of the Ankara Summit must be on defence investments and the practical development of capabilities. “For Estonia, it is important that allies invest in actual capabilities to provide the forces needed for the agreed defence plans. One very important part of this is strengthening NATO’s current approach to air policing and developing it into effective air defence capable of protecting allies against all airborne threats, from drones to ballistic missiles. A credible deterrence and defence posture also requires investments in the defence industry so that it can support rapid capability development,” Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur said.
Prime Minister Michal will attend a NATO leaders’ dinner on 7 July, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On 8 July, a working session of the North Atlantic Council will take place, attended by the prime minister, the minister of defence, and the minister of foreign affairs. Following the working session, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold a press conference.
On the morning of 7 July, the prime minister will visit the Turkish defence industry company Nurol Makina, which has supplied Estonia with more than 200 wheeled armoured vehicles. The armoured vehicles have been in active service with the Estonian Defence Forces since last year and have also taken part in the Spring Storm exercise.
On 7 July, Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur will attend a NATO defence ministers’ working dinner held as part of the summit with representatives of Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand. The summit will also feature the NATO Defence Industry Forum, bringing together political leaders, senior officials, and representatives of the defence industry from allied countries. Increasing the defence industry’s production capacity is one of the summit’s central topics. The Estonian delegation, led by the prime minister, will participate in the forum, and three Estonian companies will also be represented: Nortal, DefSecIntel, and CybeXer.
On 7 July, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna will meet with Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and attend a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting with partners of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, chaired by NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska. He will also attend a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in the NATO–Ukraine Council format with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.
Summit programme: NATO Summit 2026, 07-Jul-2026 | NATO Event
