The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gives all its 32 member nations enhanced defence and security as the alliance partners pledge to fight collectively. Only member states get protection under NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause, but the alliance does maintain close security relationships with several non-member countries. These special partnerships allow nations outside NATO to cooperate on defence, intelligence sharing, military training, and crisis response without becoming full members.&nbsp;One of the most significant groups of NATO partners includes countries designated by the US as Major Non-NATO Allies (MNNA). This legal status is separate from NATO membership and provides eligible countries with benefits such as access to military technology, defence research, and enhanced security cooperation.&nbsp;Nations with MNNA status are Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, and several others.&nbsp;&nbsp;These MNNA countries are not NATO members, but many work closely with the alliance on regional and global&nbsp;security challenges.&nbsp;Besides the MNNA framework, NATO has formal partnership programmes with countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Ukraine is one of NATO’s closest partners despite not being a member.&nbsp;Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO has significantly expanded military assistance, training programmes, intelligence sharing, and political support for Ukraine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Although Ukraine does not get NATO’s collective defence guarantee, the alliance has been strengthening Kyiv’s defence capabilities besides affirming its long-term commitment repeatedly.Georgia, another partner nation, has participated in numerous NATO exercises and operations while pursuing reforms aimed at eventual membership. Bosnia and Herzegovina also cooperates with NATO and benefits from defence modernization and institutional reform programmes.&nbsp;In the Indo-Pacific, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea are important NATO partners. These democracies regularly participate in NATO summits, joint exercises, cybersecurity initiatives, and discussions on emerging security threats such as cyberattacks, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure.&nbsp;NATO also works with countries in the Middle East and North Africa through initiatives like the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Partners including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar engage with NATO on counterterrorism, maritime security, disaster response, and military education. These programmes aim to strengthen regional stability while fostering practical defence cooperation.&nbsp;Although NATO partnerships offer substantial military and political benefits, they do not carry the same obligations or guarantees as full membership. Partner countries are not covered by Article 5, meaning NATO members are not automatically required to defend them in the event of an attack.&nbsp;NATO’s partnerships have become an increasingly important element of its strategy as they enable working with trusted countries across regions, improve military interoperability, and address emerging threats ranging from cyber warfare to terrorism and geopolitical instability.

Although NATO partnerships offer substantial military and political benefits, they do not carry the same obligations or guarantees as full membership. Partner countries are not covered by Article 5, meaning NATO members are not automatically required to defend them in the event of an attack.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gives all its 32 member nations enhanced defence and security as the alliance partners pledge to fight collectively. Only member states get protection under NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause, but the alliance does maintain close security relationships with several non-member countries. These special partnerships allow nations outside NATO to cooperate on defence, intelligence sharing, military training, and crisis response without becoming full members. One of the most significant groups of NATO partners includes countries designated by the US as Major Non-NATO Allies (MNNA). This legal status is separate from NATO membership and provides eligible countries with benefits such as access to military technology, defence research, and enhanced security cooperation. Nations with MNNA status are Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, and several others. These MNNA countries are not NATO members, but many work closely with the alliance on regional and global security challenges. Besides the MNNA framework, NATO has formal partnership programmes with countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Ukraine is one of NATO’s closest partners despite not being a member. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO has significantly expanded military assistance, training programmes, intelligence sharing, and political support for Ukraine. Although Ukraine does not get NATO’s collective defence guarantee, the alliance has been strengthening Kyiv’s defence capabilities besides affirming its long-term commitment repeatedly. Georgia, another partner nation, has participated in numerous NATO exercises and operations while pursuing reforms aimed at eventual membership. Bosnia and Herzegovina also cooperates with NATO and benefits from defence modernization and institutional reform programmes. In the Indo-Pacific, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea are important NATO partners. These democracies regularly participate in NATO summits, joint exercises, cybersecurity initiatives, and discussions on emerging security threats such as cyberattacks, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure. NATO also works with countries in the Middle East and North Africa through initiatives like the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Partners including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar engage with NATO on counterterrorism, maritime security, disaster response, and military education. These programmes aim to strengthen regional stability while fostering practical defence cooperation. Although NATO partnerships offer substantial military and political benefits, they do not carry the same obligations or guarantees as full membership. Partner countries are not covered by Article 5, meaning NATO members are not automatically required to defend them in the event of an attack. NATO’s partnerships have become an increasingly important element of its strategy as they enable working with trusted countries across regions, improve military interoperability, and address emerging threats ranging from cyber warfare to terrorism and geopolitical instability.

Although NATO partnerships offer substantial military and political benefits, they do not carry the same obligations or guarantees as full membership. Partner countries are not covered by Article 5, meaning NATO members are not automatically required to defend them in the event of an attack.

NATO’s trusted allies: Which nations have special defence partnerships without being in alliance?

As leaders of NATO nations gather for the alliance’s 2026 summit in Turkey’s Ankara, the issue of the expansion of European security crops up inadvertently. The question becomes all the more important in the rapidly altered geopolitical situation amid conflicts and wars. The 32-nation alliance is keen on strengthening collective defence and increasing military spending, as it mulls which countries could join the grouping and bolster military heft.&nbsp;The last expansion happened when Sweden joined in March 2024, completing a shift in Nordic security following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, NATO is open to let any European democracy that meets political, military, and legal criteria for membership.&nbsp;Among the current aspirants, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine are the three officially recognised partner countries seeking NATO membership, but each faces unique political and security challenges that make accession a complex and lengthy process.&nbsp;<h2>Is the Russia factor impeding expansion?</h2>&nbsp;Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine has deepened military cooperation with NATO members and continues to get extensive security assistance. However, despite assurances, NATO leaders have stopped short of providing Kyiv a formal timeline for membership as member states argue that admitting a country already engaged in an active war could trigger NATO’s collective defence obligations under Article 5 and dramatically escalate tensions with Russia.&nbsp;Discussions have hence instead focused on long-term military support, defence modernisation, and closer institutional cooperation.&nbsp;Bosnia and Herzegovina made gradual progress through NATO’s Membership Action Plan, but domestic political divisions continue to slow reforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Alliance supports sovereignty but baulks in providing accession timeline&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Georgia, also keen for NATO membership, has participated extensively in alliance missions and exercises, but its territorial disputes involving the Russian-backed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain an obstacle. NATO repeatedly reaffirms its support for Georgia’s sovereignty but baulks in providing a clear accession timetable.&nbsp;However, NATO enlargement is likely to take a back seat this summit as leaders focus on increasing defence spending, expanding defence industrial capacity, strengthening deterrence along the eastern flank, and continuing military assistance for Ukraine. The alliance is also gearing up to tackle new security challenges like cyber threats and Arctic defence.&nbsp;Analysts believe that NATO will not take in any new member in the immediate future.

Among the current aspirants, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine are the three officially recognised partner countries seeking NATO membership, but each faces unique political and security challenges that make accession a complex and lengthy process.

As leaders of NATO nations gather for the alliance’s 2026 summit in Turkey’s Ankara, the issue of the expansion of European security crops up inadvertently. The question becomes all the more important in the rapidly altered geopolitical situation amid conflicts and wars. The 32-nation alliance is keen on strengthening collective defence and increasing military spending, as it mulls which countries could join the grouping and bolster military heft. The last expansion happened when Sweden joined in March 2024, completing a shift in Nordic security following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, NATO is open to let any European democracy that meets political, military, and legal criteria for membership. Among the current aspirants, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine are the three officially recognised partner countries seeking NATO membership, but each faces unique political and security challenges that make accession a complex and lengthy process. Is the Russia factor impeding expansion? Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine has deepened military cooperation with NATO members and continues to get extensive security assistance. However, despite assurances, NATO leaders have stopped short of providing Kyiv a formal timeline for membership as member states argue that admitting a country already engaged in an active war could trigger NATO’s collective defence obligations under Article 5 and dramatically escalate tensions with Russia. Discussions have hence instead focused on long-term military support, defence modernisation, and closer institutional cooperation. Bosnia and Herzegovina made gradual progress through NATO’s Membership Action Plan, but domestic political divisions continue to slow reforms. Alliance supports sovereignty but baulks in providing accession timeline Georgia, also keen for NATO membership, has participated extensively in alliance missions and exercises, but its territorial disputes involving the Russian-backed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain an obstacle. NATO repeatedly reaffirms its support for Georgia’s sovereignty but baulks in providing a clear accession timetable. However, NATO enlargement is likely to take a back seat this summit as leaders focus on increasing defence spending, expanding defence industrial capacity, strengthening deterrence along the eastern flank, and continuing military assistance for Ukraine. The alliance is also gearing up to tackle new security challenges like cyber threats and Arctic defence. Analysts believe that NATO will not take in any new member in the immediate future.

Among the current aspirants, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine are the three officially recognised partner countries seeking NATO membership, but each faces unique political and security challenges that make accession a complex and lengthy process.

NATO Summit 2026: Which countries could join the alliance next?

The NATO Summit 2026 will be held held in Ankara, capital of Turkey from 7–8 July 2026. Leaders of all 32 NATO member states, along with invited partner countries and senior officials from the European Union and NATO are expected to take part in the summit. This will be the second time that Turkey would be hosting the summit. In 2004, a summit was hosted in Istanbul, which was attended by leaders from 26 Allies.&nbsp;<h2>Who are the attendees?</h2>&nbsp;United States President Donald Trump, Mark Carney of Canada, Keir Starmer of United Kingdom, Emmanuel Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Pedro Sánchez of Spain and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey are going to take part in the summit.&nbsp;Other guests to be attending the NATO summit would be heads of government or state of the remaining NATO allies: Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.&nbsp;Senior NATO officials including Secretary General Mark Rutte will be among the attendees.&nbsp;<h2>Who are the invited guest nations?</h2>&nbsp;Key invited guest nations include Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). &nbsp;Ukraine holds a special invited status, with allies formally recognising its irreversible path to full membership.<h2>Agenda of the Summit</h2>&nbsp;The main agenda of the Summit is to help in NATO's long-term defense spending targets, expand defense industrial production and procurement and provide continued military and financial support for Ukraine.&nbsp;NATO's partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries and security issues involving Russia, the Middle East, and transatlantic burden-sharing will also be top on agenda of the leaders at the NATO Summit.&nbsp;The 2026 Ankara Summit is the second NATO summit hosted by Türkey. In 2004, a landmark summit was hosted in Istanbul, which was attended by leaders from 26 Allies and took place only a few months after NATO’s largest round of enlargement to date, the ‘Big Bang’ accession of seven new members.&nbsp;

Key invited guest nations include Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Ukraine holds a special invited status, with allies formally recognising its irreversible path to full membership.

The NATO Summit 2026 will be held held in Ankara, capital of Turkey from 7–8 July 2026. Leaders of all 32 NATO member states, along with invited partner countries and senior officials from the European Union and NATO are expected to take part in the summit. This will be the second time that Turkey would be hosting the summit. In 2004, a summit was hosted in Istanbul, which was attended by leaders from 26 Allies. Who are the attendees? United States President Donald Trump, Mark Carney of Canada, Keir Starmer of United Kingdom, Emmanuel Macron of France, Friedrich Merz of Germany, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Pedro Sánchez of Spain and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey are going to take part in the summit. Other guests to be attending the NATO summit would be heads of government or state of the remaining NATO allies: Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. Senior NATO officials including Secretary General Mark Rutte will be among the attendees. Who are the invited guest nations? Key invited guest nations include Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Ukraine holds a special invited status, with allies formally recognising its irreversible path to full membership. Agenda of the Summit The main agenda of the Summit is to help in NATO's long-term defense spending targets, expand defense industrial production and procurement and provide continued military and financial support for Ukraine. NATO's partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries and security issues involving Russia, the Middle East, and transatlantic burden-sharing will also be top on agenda of the leaders at the NATO Summit. The 2026 Ankara Summit is the second NATO summit hosted by Türkey. In 2004, a landmark summit was hosted in Istanbul, which was attended by leaders from 26 Allies and took place only a few months after NATO’s largest round of enlargement to date, the ‘Big Bang’ accession of seven new members.

Key invited guest nations include Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Ukraine holds a special invited status, with allies formally recognising its irreversible path to full membership.

Who is attending the NATO Summit 2026? Check complete list of leaders and invited countries

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NATO’s trusted allies: Which nations have special defence partnerships without being in alliance?

NATO Summit 2026: Which countries could join the alliance next?

Who is attending NATO Summit 2026? Complete list of leaders, invited countries