Ankara 2026: NATO’s Strategic Resetin an Era of Transactional Alliances

This IPS Insight argues that the 2026 Ankara NATO Summit marked a strategic transformation of the alliance from a values-driven organization to a more pragmatic and transactional security partnership shaped by shared strategic interests, economic interdependence, and evolving global threats. It highlights increased European defence spending, deeper defence-industrial integration, and a gradual redistribution of security responsibilities as evidence of NATO’s adaptation rather than decline. The summit also underscores the growing role of transactional diplomacy and personal leadership in alliance politics, particularly through Türkiye’s enhanced strategic position. Overall, the author contends that NATO’s long-term resilience will depend not on restoring past political consensus but on effectively managing contemporary strategic differences.