The Ankara Summit and the End of the Atlantic Era

The event was marked by a palpable dissonance between the public script and private concerns. While dignitaries navigated the formalities of the host nation, they carefully avoided the reality of an elective autocracy, opting for a collective mutism regarding domestic crackdowns. Even Donald Trump’s erratic behavior—ranging from his fixation on Greenland to aggressive posturing over Gulf policy—was met with the practiced indifference typical of a production where the script is already written.

Beneath this surface, however, substantive shifts occurred. Ukraine secured a pledge of €70bn in support for the current year and a commitment for 2027, though notably, none of this funding originates from the United States. While the Trump administration refrained from actively undermining Ukraine, the summit underscored a growing European realization that the Atlantic era is effectively closing. The absence of a formal commitment to the next planned gathering in Tirana served as a quiet admission that the alliance is no longer the anchor it once was. As the focus shifts toward regional cooperation, such as the drone deals brokered by Estonia, the Netherlands, and Denmark, Europe is increasingly preparing for a future defined by American distance rather than security guarantees.