NATO chief heads to Ankara for key talks ahead of Antalya ministerial

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Ankara on May 13 for discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The visit is intended to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers, scheduled to take place in Antalya on May 14–15, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Rutte will meet with President Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler. The visit marks Rutte's first official trip to Türkiye since assuming his role as NATO's chief in October 2024.

The Antalya meeting is expected to focus on strategic issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and NATO's collective defence initiatives. While Ukraine's potential membership in the Alliance may be discussed informally, it is not anticipated to be the primary agenda item.

The meeting will also serve as a platform to finalize discussions on increasing NATO's defence spending threshold, with a proposed target of 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2032.

The discussions are expected to reinforce NATO's commitment to collective defense and address emerging security challenges.

By Vafa Guliyeva