The Russian Foreign Ministry described NATO's policies at the current stage as "irresponsible" and could lead the alliance itself and the entire world to a "disaster", commenting on the outcomes of the alliance's Ankara summit on Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said NATO's overall approach "has not changed," and that it continues to push towards the militarization of the European continent, increasing defense capabilities, preparing for an "armed conflict with Russia," as well as continuing support for Ukraine.
She added that Ukraine is being used by "extremists within the alliance" to achieve the "imaginary" goal of defeating Russia's strategy, arguing that spending billions of dollars on supporting Kyiv in exchange for cuts in social spending "inflicts irreparable damage on the well-being of the people of Europe."
Russia warns: Our confrontation is draining NATO
Zakharova said NATO had "not been able to overcome the divisions" between the United States and European countries, despite Europeans declaring their readiness to take on greater responsibilities in protecting their territory.
The Russian official considered that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte failed to "satisfy US President Donald Trump", enough to maintain Washington's interest in ensuring Europe's security and preventing it from speeding up the withdrawal of its troops and military means from the continent.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the European elite "probably does not realize" that confronting Moscow means a great drain of resources and the opening of new hotbeds of tension within Europe itself, noting that the Americans "did not hide their disappointment" at the failure to resolve the Greenland issue according to the American scenario, and the lack of allies' support for the US military operation in Iran.
Ankara Summit Communiqué: Collective Commitment and Expansion of Defense Capabilities
The final communiqué of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in Ankara on Wednesday, July 8, affirmed that the allies renewed their commitment to the principle of collective defense under Article V of the Washington Treaty, stressing that "any attack on a member state is an attack on all."
European allies and Canada have increased their defense investments by more than $139 billion through 2025, announcing new purchases exceeding $50 billion to boost joint defense manufacturing capabilities and accelerate military innovation.
He pointed out that the alliance is working on developing a cloud of transatlantic warfare operations and advanced artificial intelligence models, as part of a strategy aimed at maintaining combat superiority in the face of Russian threats and global terrorism.
The Iranian file and the Strait of Hormuz
The statement stressed the need to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, calling on Tehran to fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The alliance continues to adapt to "hybrid threats and rampant instability in the region" amid rising regional tensions, he said, noting that maritime security in the Gulf is an essential part of the Atlantic deterrence system.
Consistent and long-term support for Ukraine
The statement devoted a large space to the Ukrainian file, stressing that Ukraine "contributes to transatlantic security" and that allies stand united in its support to defend its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The alliance has announced 70 billion euros in military and training aid this year, with allies committing to maintaining similar levels of support next year.
He welcomed the EU's decision to provide multi-year financing to Ukraine through a special support loan, stressing that such support "must be fair, predictable and sustainable in the long term."
NATO expects defense spending to rise to $1.81 trillion
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) predicted that the defense expenditures of member states during 2026 will rise to about $1.81 trillion, an increase of nearly 11% compared to the previous year, according to data published by the alliance in conjunction with the Ankara summit, indicating that defense spending will reach $1.809 trillion in 2026, compared to $1.630 trillion in 2025, and $1.483 trillion in 2024.
The United States is estimated to be the largest spender within the alliance with a total of $1.033 trillion, equivalent to 57% of NATO's total defense spending.
Germany comes in second place with $147 billion, followed by Britain with $110 billion, France with $80 billion, Italy with $57 billion, Poland with $53 billion, and Canada with $52 billion, while Turkey's defense expenditures are expected to reach $48 billion this year.
At the 2025 Hague Summit, NATO leaders agreed to raise core defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, plus 1.5 percent for security- and defense-related investments by 2035, including civilian readiness, innovation, critical infrastructure protection, and defense industry support.
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