NATO Deputy Chief Urges Higher Defense Spending and Unity Ahead of Crucial Ankara Summit

NATO's deputy supreme allied commander in Europe, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, has called for member countries to increase defense spending and reaffirm support for Ukraine, emphasizing alliance unity ahead of the crucial Ankara summit on July 7-8. This follows conflicting signals from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding America's force posture in Europe and his criticism of allies for not contributing enough to defense. Finland's President Alexander Stubb also stated that Russia has suffered a strategic defeat due to Ukraine's irreversible movement towards EU and NATO integration and increased European defense spending.