Munich Security Conference Hosts “Allies in Ankara” Event Hub at NATO Summit 2026
Ankara, July 9, 2026 – The Munich Security Conference (MSC) successfully hosted its “Allies in Ankara” event hub on July 7 and 8, 2026, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in the Turkish capital. This initiative continued the MSC’s long-standing tradition of providing a dedicated space for in-depth discussions on critical international security challenges.
The event, held at the Ankara Palas, was a collaborative effort with the SETA Foundation and the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish Presidency. Building on the successful hub concept first introduced at the NATO Summit 2025 in The Hague, the MSC curated a diverse program of 45 events. These included contributions from leading think tanks, universities, civil society organizations, and businesses from the economic and media sectors. The agenda encompassed both partner-organized side events and a core program featuring panel discussions and conversation formats. Notable speakers included Czech President Petr Pavel and US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Mike Rounds.
NATO in Transition: Navigating a Volatile Era
With the Ankara Summit taking place during a particularly volatile period for NATO, a central theme of many discussions was the alliance’s transition to a “NATO 3.0.” This new phase emphasizes greater responsibility for European allies and Canada. There was broad consensus that the current shift in burden-sharing within NATO is both necessary and inevitable. Some participants noted that the US government’s desire for such a shift was not new, but rather the tone with which this demand was presented had changed under the current US administration.
However, there was disagreement on how Europeans should institutionally manage this transition. Participants expressed varying expectations regarding long-term US engagement in NATO, with some describing the alliance as “militarily strengthened but politically weakened.” Consequently, intense discussions revolved around the roles of NATO, the EU, and ad hoc formats such as E3, E5, and the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, in organizing new European leadership in defense. Regardless of future expectations for NATO, there was broad consensus that European allies would need to significantly expand their own defense capabilities in any scenario.
Expanding Defense Industrial Capacities
Against this backdrop, many discussions focused on the urgent need to expand Europe’s defense industry. Given Ankara’s role as the host city, there was extensive deliberation on Turkey’s potential contributions. Many participants highlighted Turkey’s status as a key defense industrial power, capable of making significant contributions.
Particular attention was given to the challenge of balancing the procurement of traditional weapon systems – such as tanks and artillery – with novel unmanned systems like drones, which have proven highly effective in Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. The central importance of mass-produced unmanned systems for modern warfare was widely acknowledged. Several participants advocated for a fundamental reform of NATO member states’ procurement processes to better align them with the rapid innovation cycles of such technologies. Proposals for multi-stage procurement models, which provide different procedures for classic and novel capabilities, were also discussed. Finally, several speakers emphasized that the definition of procurement criteria should be more closely oriented towards desired military effects than towards the capabilities themselves.
Ukraine: From Recipient to Essential Security Partner
Many discussions also reflected a remarkable shift in NATO allies’ perception of Ukraine, particularly influenced by successful Ukrainian medium and long-range attacks on oil refineries in Russia. Throughout the event, participants praised Ukraine’s impressive innovations in drone, anti-drone, and missile technology.
Overall, Ukraine was increasingly seen not merely as a recipient of NATO military support, but as a “Security Provider” with crucial expertise in drone warfare. As an example, it was noted that Ukraine now advises several Gulf states seeking to protect themselves against Iranian drone attacks. Many participants therefore argued that it is even more important for European security today to integrate Ukraine more closely into the European defense architecture.
The MSC looks back on a successful and insightful event on the sidelines of the Ankara Summit and looks forward to continuing its cooperation with NATO at future alliance summits, at the annual Munich Security Conference, and on other occasions.
Source: securityconference.org
