Ankara, 06 July 2026 (Anadolu News)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, ahead of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday in the Turkish capital.

According to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, the closed-door meeting focused on the agenda of the upcoming NATO summit, as well as key regional and international developments.

President Erdogan expressed confidence that the summit, hosted by Türkiye, would yield positive outcomes, noting that all preparations for the high-level gathering had been completed.

During the meeting, Erdogan underscored the importance of addressing a broad range of issues at the summit, including strengthening NATO’s collective defense capabilities and enhancing cooperation among allies in the defense industry.

He also highlighted the significance of the Defense Industry Forum, which will be held on the sidelines of the summit, saying it is expected to attract considerable attention.

The Ankara summit brings together NATO heads of state and government for two days of discussions on alliance priorities, regional security, and other strategic issues. Ahead of the opening session, President Erdogan has been holding a series of bilateral meetings with participating leaders and senior officials.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised Türkiye’s growing defense industry, saying the alliance is already benefiting from the country’s expanding defense production and technological capabilities ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara.

Speaking at a pre-summit press conference on Monday, Rutte described Türkiye as a key NATO ally, highlighting its strategic geographic position and rapidly developing defense sector. He noted that companies such as ASELSAN, along with nearly 3,000 other defense firms across the country, are making significant contributions to the alliance and supporting the defense needs of many partner nations.

ASELSAN, one of Türkiye’s leading defense companies, was selected last year by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for the Modular Air Defense Concept Stage and is preparing additional deliveries of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems and advanced communication solutions.

Rutte also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish authorities for hosting the NATO leaders’ summit, expressing confidence that the event would be successfully organized.

Emphasizing the alliance’s defense priorities, the NATO chief urged member states to translate increased defense spending into practical military capabilities. He said greater investment in drones, missile systems and air defense technologies is essential to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and collective security. He added that the Defense Industry Forum, taking place alongside the summit, is expected to announce tens of billions of dollars in new defense contracts and multinational industrial partnerships.

On wider security challenges, Rutte noted that NATO allies remain committed to raising defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. He also warned against underestimating China’s growing military capabilities, saying developments in the Indo-Pacific have direct implications for Euro-Atlantic security.

Reaffirming NATO’s support for Ukraine, Rutte condemned Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks and stressed that strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses remains a priority, describing Ukraine’s security as closely linked to the security of the alliance.

The NATO Summit, being held in Ankara on July 7–8, will focus on strengthening collective defense, enhancing defense industrial cooperation and sustaining support for Ukraine amid evolving global security challenges.