Turkish President, NATO chief mull challenges to collective security

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met on November 25 in Ankara to address the "escalating challenges" facing the alliance’s collective security.

During the meeting, the sides focused on critical issues such as terrorism, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the crisis in the Middle East. Rutte emphasized the vital contributions Türkiye continues to make to NATO in a world marked by increasing unpredictability,  Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Complex, also saw the participation of Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler. This visit marked Rutte’s first trip to Türkiye since assuming the role of NATO’s Secretary General last month.

In addition to the main discussions, Fidan held a separate one-on-one meeting with the NATO chief, according to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rutte, who became NATO’s 14th Secretary General in October, succeeded Jens Stoltenberg, who had held the position for many years. Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952, making it a key ally in the alliance for over seven decades.

By Vafa Guliyeva