NATO confirms 2026 summit in Türkiye’s Ankara

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the alliance’s 2026 Summit will be held on July 7 and 8 at the Beştepe Presidential Compound (Külliye) in Ankara, Türkiye.

The decision underscores Türkiye’s enduring role within the alliance, having been a NATO member for more than seven decades. It also marks the second time the country will host a NATO Summit, with the previous gathering held in Istanbul in 2004.

“I want to thank Türkiye for hosting this important meeting. Türkiye has been a strong NATO Ally for more than 70 years, making invaluable contributions to our shared security. At our next Summit, Leaders will continue to make NATO a stronger, fairer and more lethal Alliance, ready to respond to the critical challenges to our security,” said Secretary General Rutte in his official statement.

NATO Summits serve as high-level gatherings where Allied leaders come together to assess security threats, outline strategic priorities, and adopt key decisions shaping the Alliance’s collective defence and deterrence posture.

The 2026 summit in Ankara is expected to address a broad array of challenges, from renewed geopolitical tensions to technological competition, hybrid threats, and the evolving security landscape along NATO’s eastern flank.

By Vafa Guliyeva