UK, German leaders arrive in Ankara for NATO summit
Türkiye hosts allied leaders for talks on defense, diplomacy, and regional stability at a moment of global uncertainty
ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) — The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit opened in Ankara on Tuesday, drawing leaders from the alliance’s 32 member states to the Turkish capital at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived for the two-day summit, where leaders are expected to discuss NATO’s direction amid continued instability across Europe.
His aircraft landed at Ankara Esenboğa Airport, where Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu and other officials welcomed him.
He was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, underscoring London’s engagement with Türkiye and its NATO partners.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also arrived Tuesday and was welcomed by Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and other government representatives, reflecting Germany’s central role as the alliance debates strengthening Europe’s defenses.
Running July 7-8, the summit is expected to focus on implementing the defense spending commitments agreed at the 2025 NATO summit while advancing military readiness, defense industrial production, and long-term support for Ukraine.
Leaders are also expected to weigh emerging security threats, improve interoperability among members, and assess NATO’s strategic posture.
The meeting comes amid renewed debate over transatlantic burden-sharing, with several members under pressure to raise defense spending.
The Russia-Ukraine war remains a dominant agenda item as governments balance military aid for Kyiv against broader European stability and deterrence.
Beyond defense, the summit offers a platform for bilateral and multilateral talks on political cooperation, regional security, economic partnerships, energy resilience, and defense industrial collaboration.
For Türkiye, hosting reinforces its position as a key alliance member bridging Europe, the Middle East, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The 2026 gathering is the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye, after the 2004 summit in Istanbul, and its outcomes are likely to shape alliance policy on defense investment, modernization, and continued support for Ukraine.
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