NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is holding a series of high-level meetings in Ankara with Turkey’s leadership, as preparations intensify for the upcoming NATO summit.
During his visit, Rutte met Turkey’s Defence Minister Yaşar Güler at the Ministry of Defence. No details of the discussions were disclosed, according to an official statement from the Turkish ministry.
He is also expected to be received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential complex, while a separate meeting is scheduled with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Turkish media reports indicate that talks are focusing on Turkey–NATO relations, regional security developments, and ongoing conflicts, including tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, as well as the war in Ukraine. Discussions are also expected to cover Turkey’s role within the alliance and potential NATO mission planning.
The visit comes less than three months before the NATO summit, set to take place in Ankara on 7 and 8 July, with preparations already underway.
Rutte’s presence in the Turkish capital has also drawn protests. Members of a nationalist youth group staged a demonstration outside the foreign ministry, displaying banners with anti-NATO slogans and chanting against the alliance’s presence in Turkey.
Source: CNA