The NATO summit in Ankara is set to determine the Alliance’s future security architecture – Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated that the NATO summit, due to take place on 7–8 July in Ankara, should mark an important milestone in shaping the Alliance’s future security architecture, according to TRT Haber.
Following a cabinet meeting, the Turkish leader noted that Turkey’s role in NATO and developments in the region are heightening interest in the upcoming summit. He said that Ankara is continuing its preparations for the event, taking into account the high expectations of its international partners.
Erdogan emphasised that since joining NATO in 1952, Turkey has remained one of the Alliance’s key members and is among the states providing significant support to NATO peacekeeping missions in various regions of the world.
The President also announced preparations for a number of international events. In particular, the NATO Parliamentary Summit will take place in Istanbul on 28–29 June. In the autumn, Ankara will host the 13th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States. Furthermore, Turkey will host the 77th International Astronautical Congress and the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya.
As part of the preparations for the NATO summit, the refurbished Etimesgut Airport and new transport infrastructure for receiving official delegations have been opened in Ankara. During the opening ceremony, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the airport had been prepared to accommodate wide-body aircraft and official flights.
The project was implemented in two phases over 230 days. The length of the runway was increased from 2,450 to 3,000 metres, and the width from 42 to 60 metres. The new apron, covering an area of 160,000 square metres, can accommodate up to 44 aircraft simultaneously.
An aviation bridge over the high-speed railway line and new access roads have also been commissioned. A separate state guest complex covering 4,800 square metres and a car park for 310 vehicles have been built to accommodate official delegations.
To ensure the summit’s security, Turkey will deploy around 70,000 law enforcement personnel. Of these, 55,000 will be police officers and gendarmes.
Units from counter-terrorism, intelligence, cyber security, public safety, special police forces, and teams specialising in radiological, chemical, biological and nuclear protection, as well as traffic police and gendarmerie, will be deployed to secure the event.
Enhanced security measures will be in place at the entrances to Ankara, at airports, at the delegations’ accommodation, along transport routes and near the summit venues. Special gendarmerie units will also be on duty along the routes between airports and the event venues.
It is expected that the leaders of all NATO member states, as well as the heads of nine countries invited as guests, will take part in the summit. US President Donald Trump’s plane and the aircraft of other summit participants are due to arrive at Etimesgut Airport.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already received an invitation to the Alliance summit in Ankara.
