Watch | Macron spotted jogging in Ankara ahead of crucial Nato summit

French President Emmanuel Macron was seen out for a morning jog in the Turkish capital while attending the 36th Nato Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, where leaders from across the alliance have gathered for two days of discussions centred on defence, security and military spending. Macron was accompanied by his security detail during the run on the sidelines of the summit, taking place on July 7 and 8, 2026.

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Macron has previously been seen making time for an early morning run during official overseas visits. During his visit to India in February, the French leader began the day with a jog along Mumbai's Marine Drive, accompanied by his security detail, before attending his scheduled engagements.

Nato members meet in Turkey 

Leaders from Nato member states are meeting in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday as US President Donald Trump renews pressure on allies to increase defence spending. European countries are expected to respond by announcing billions of dollars in new military contracts.

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Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday sought to reassure alliance members of Washington's commitment ahead of a key summit in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump is set to meet fellow leaders.

"There is complete commitment of the United States to Nato", Rutte told reporters before the opening of the main session.

"But there's also an expectation... that the Europeans and the Canadians will equalise their spending with the United States... which I think is completely fair," he added, referring to one of Trump's long-standing concerns about defence spending within the alliance.

The summit opened against the backdrop of renewed tensions in West Asia after US forces carried out extensive strikes on Iran in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory attacks on American military bases across the Gulf.

Upon arriving in Ankara on Tuesday, Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting their "chemistry", in remarks that stood in contrast to his continued frustration with European allies over the war on Iran.

"I was very disappointed with Nato," Trump said again, setting the tone ahead of the summit's main gathering, which began at 0815 GMT.

The meeting comes at a critical moment for the 77-year-old alliance, with Trump continuing to press member states to fulfil their pledge to increase defence spending as the US reduces its role in European security.

Ahead of the summit's main session, Nato released figures showing that Europe's core defence spending had increased by 11 per cent in 2026, reaching $634 billion, compared with $571 billion the previous year.

Nato member states unveiled defence agreements worth at least $50 billion on Tuesday during the summit in Turkey, where Secretary-General Mark Rutte called for a “transatlantic defence industrial revolution” to accelerate the alliance's military build-up. The announcements came as leaders sought to demonstrate stronger defence commitments in response to continued pressure from US President Donald Trump to increase military spending.

The defence agreements, valued at at least $50 billion, include purchases by several European countries of surveillance drones from US defence firm Northrop Grumman, while Nato will procure aircraft from Swedish defence manufacturer Saab.

The deals highlight Europe's push to reinforce its defence industrial base and address key capability shortfalls, despite many member states continuing to depend significantly on US-made military equipment.