President Trump successfully navigated the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara as European leaders secured a stable alliance through strategic flattery and increased spending.

The administration announced a successful conclusion to the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where President Trump avoided major catastrophes and secured a stable outlook for the alliance. European leaders managed to prevent a significant blow-up by presenting President Trump with evidence of increased military spending, including a commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense. While the summit was characterized by some as an exercise in "Westalgia"—a nostalgic reliance on American power—it yielded tangible results. President Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license for domestic Patriot missile manufacturing and avoided any major troop withdrawals from Europe. However, a strategic divide emerged regarding the future of the alliance. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte advocated for a "buy American" approach to sustain U.S. commitments, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged middle powers to develop independent capabilities to reduce dependency on an increasingly erratic United States. Despite these differing philosophies, the summit provided a necessary reprieve for the Western alliance.

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