NATO summit in Türkiye to reshape global security order — Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (photo: Getty Images)
Ankara will host a NATO leaders' summit crucial to the future of the global security architecture and the entire North Atlantic Alliance, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
NATO summit in Türkiye: Dates
The outlet reports the NATO leaders' summit will take place in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026. The meeting will take place amid dramatic global developments and the emergence of increasingly complex security threats.
"Today's world is not a continuation of the old world in which NATO was founded. A new world has emerged, and NATO's position in it is very different. Threats have become more complex, risks have diversified, and the global system has become blurred," Erdoğan stressed.
He added that Türkiye expects important decisions to be made regarding the Alliance's future.
In addition, the Turkish president emphasized that fair burden-sharing, sincere cooperation, and a common understanding of security are critical for the bloc's success.
Accusations against Israel
Erdoğan also focused on the crisis in the Middle East. He accused Tel Aviv of trying to destabilize the entire region for its own interests.
"Israel wants this war to spread throughout the region... Guided by certain fantasies and utopias, Israel has repeatedly shown that it does not hesitate to set our region on fire for the sake of its ambitions," the Turkish leader said.
He called on countries in the region to unite efforts, reject short-term estimates, and neutralize Israeli provocations in order to achieve lasting peace.
Preparations for NATO summit in Türkiye
As the media earlier reported, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte plans to gather executives from Europe's leading defense companies in Brussels next week.
The main goal of the meeting is to discuss increasing investment and weapons production, particularly long-range missiles and air defense systems, laying the groundwork for key decisions at the July summit in Ankara.
In addition, NATO readies invitations for four Gulf countries to participate in the upcoming summit. Key topics expected to be discussed with the new partners include countering Iran and addressing internal tensions within the Alliance.
At the same time, European allies are actively assessing the risks associated with a possible reduction in US troop presence in Europe. Defense circles believe that, following US President Donald Trump's decisions regarding Germany, a new wave of optimization and cuts in the American military presence could affect Italy and Spain.
