Russia said NATO remained focused on confrontation with Moscow and continued support for Ukraine after the alliance’s July 7-8 summit in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Telegram NATO had again identified Russia as a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security, adding that confrontation with Moscow had become "existential and systemic" for the alliance.

As NATO leaders gather in Ankara, Türkiye's role in the alliance is best understood through its decades-long military commitment—from the battlefields of Korean Peninsula to the frontlines of today's evolving security order.

US President Donald Trump said he had a “very good” NATO summit, adding that “a lot of things were determined” during the meetings.

Trump also said the United States reached “good trade deals” with Türkiye and described Ankara as “a very good partner” following his visit to the country.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the NATO summit hosted by Türkiye in Ankara on July 7-8 concluded successfully.

In a statement on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan said the participation of all allies at the leaders’ level in the “historic summit” was a sign of confidence in Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The summit, held at a critical time amid intense discussions on NATO’s transformation, addressed key issues on the Euro-Atlantic security agenda in detail, he said.

Turkish President Erdogan says US President Trump has expressed a positive view on F-35 sales and highlights closer cooperation in the defence industry, while Ankara pushes for a stronger role inside NATO.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a NATO summit in Ankara.

Erdogan hosted Costa and von der Leyen at a working dinner as part of diplomatic engagements during the summit held at the presidential complex.

Sweden has announced it would ramp up collaboration with Germany on air defence, including the development of unmanned systems.

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference he and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, had signed a "letter of intent on a deepened cooperation in the area of air defence".

The two ministers had signed the deal during the NATO summit in Ankara.

"For example, we are looking at whether Sweden and Germany could deepen their cooperation on unmanned systems," Jonson told reporters in the Turkish capital.

Merz and Erdogan discuss deeper defence, trade and security cooperation as Berlin and Ankara seek closer coordination within NATO and beyond.