Turkish leader to meet new NATO secretary general in Washington

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“The meeting with Rutte will be held in Washington in early July,” President Erdogan told journalists in the parliament, Caliber.Az reports citing the Russian media.

“I congratulated the new NATO Secretary General on his appointment. We will meet with him in Washington, and later he will visit Türkiye,” NTV channel quoted Erdogan as saying. The NATO summit will be held in Washington on July 9-11.

The Turkish presidential office said that President Erdogan had a phone talk with Rutte.

“During the phone talk, President Erdogan wished Rutte success in his new position. Rutte also thanked President Erdogan for his support,” the presidential office said.

Protocol regarding Türkiye’s membership to NATO was signed on October 17, 1951. Law on the accession of Türkiye to the North Atlantic Treaty was endorsed on February 18, 1952 and Türkiye became a NATO member together with Greece.

Türkiye has been a staunch Ally of NATO and considers the Alliance as the linchpin of the Transatlantic ties and Euro-Atlantic security. NATO is known as the most successful defense alliance in the history. On the other hand, Türkiye is a valuable asset for NATO. Türkiye assumed the responsibility to protect southeastern border of the Alliance during Cold War period.