Ahead of the 36th NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, leaders of the alliance’s member states flocked to Turkey’s capital. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan hosted a reception and official dinner in honor of the heads of state and government and their spouses at the Presidential Complex.
Alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, representatives from South Korea, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Estonia, Montenegro, Canada, Latvia, Finland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Czechia, Bulgaria, Sweden, Albania, Iceland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Norway, and Greece—including US President Donald Trump—arrived in Ankara. By evening, the number of leaders in the city had reached 30.
Welcome ceremony with mehter band
The leaders arrived at the ceremony area of the Complex in their official vehicles. The guests were greeted individually by President Erdoğan and his wife as they ascended the stairs to the sound of marches played by the mehter band. After a family photo, the guests proceeded to the hall where the official dinner was to be served.
The first to arrive at the reception was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, while the last guest was US President Trump. The Erdoğan couple had a warm conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. As President Erdoğan headed to the dining hall with US President Trump, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz welcomed the other heads of state and government.
NATO official on summit expectations
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska spoke at the 'NATO Summit Dialogues' event held in Ankara. Shekerinska said they expect this summit to be 'a turning point' for the alliance, and added that all allies must do their part.
"Last year's summit in The Hague was not easy, because we had to commit to much stronger investments and spending in our defense area," Shekerinska said. "We made bold and historic decisions, but now in Ankara we will show the even more important part: how we will turn these words and commitments into concrete results, how we will fulfill the commitments we made."
Shekerinska stated that the summit would be about 'a mindset change,' 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.
