NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the next summit of the Alliance is planned for July 7–8, 2026 in Turkey. According to NATO’s press office, the event will take place at the Beştepe Presidential Complex (Külliye) in Ankara.
“I want to thank Turkey for hosting this important meeting. Turkey has been a strong NATO ally for more than 70 years, making an invaluable contribution to our shared security. At our next summit, leaders will continue to make NATO a stronger and more just Alliance, ready to respond to the critical challenges to our security”
– Mark Rutte
Turkey will host the NATO summit for the second time. The previous event took place in Istanbul in 2004.
It is expected that the second-highest-level NATO summit in Ankara will underscore Turkey’s growing role as a key ally and the importance of transatlantic cooperation in the face of contemporary security challenges.
Key topics of the upcoming summit
As part of the discussions, the emphasis is expected to be on strengthening the Alliance’s defensive capabilities, modernizing joint forces, cybersecurity, energy security, and coordinating a response to new threats in Europe and beyond.
Experts believe that the format of the meetings in Ankara will continue to energize Turkey’s role within the NATO structure and underscore the importance of transatlantic unity in responding to contemporary security challenges.
In summary, the upcoming summit highlights the stability of strategic partnerships among member countries and confirms Turkey’s active role in the development of a common European security and defense.