Ahead of the NATO 36th Leaders Summit in Ankara, leaders of alliance member countries flocked to Turkey's capital. The reception and official dinner hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex marked the first major gathering of the summit.
US President Donald Trump was one of the first to arrive in Ankara, greeted by President Erdoğan. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with leaders representing South Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Poland, and Greece also attended the evening event at the Complex. Approximately 30 heads of state and government arrived in their official vehicles at the ceremonial venue.
Welcome with Mehter Marches
Guests were greeted one by one by President Erdoğan and Emine Erdoğan as they climbed the stairs to the accompaniment of marches played by the Mehter band. After a family photo was taken, the leaders proceeded to the hall where the official dinner was to be served. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived first at the reception, while the last guest was US President Trump. The Erdoğan couple had a warm conversation with French President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. President Erdoğan walked to the dining hall with President Trump, while Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz greeted the other heads of state and government.
NATO Statement Ahead of Summit
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska spoke at an event ahead of the summit. Shekerinska stated that they expect the summit in Ankara to be a "turning point" for the alliance. "The summit in The Hague last year was not easy, because we had to commit to much stronger investments and spending in our defense area," Shekerinska said. "We took bold and historic decisions, but now in Ankara, we will show the even more important part: we will show how to turn these words and commitments into concrete results, how to deliver on the commitments we made."
Shekerinska added that the summit would be about a "change in mindset" and noted that the aim is to strengthen collective defense and, in line with the "NATO 3.0" vision, to have a stronger Europe within a stronger alliance.
