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Ankara is mobilizing thousands of security forces and imposing strict measures for the July 7-8 summit, where leaders of the 32 member countries will discuss the future of the Alliance, defense spending and the role of the US...
Turkey has taken extensive security measures for the NATO summit to be held in Ankara on July 7 and 8. Authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police officers, put air defenses on high alert, banned public gatherings and imposed restrictions that have sparked debate about freedom of expression and assembly.
Ankara aims to demonstrate its role in the Alliance and its commitment to NATO through organizing the summit, despite the fact that it is often considered a partner not always in line with the allies.
The summit will be attended by leaders of 32 member countries, including US President Donald Trump. His previous statements about a possible US withdrawal from NATO or a reduction in the US military presence in Europe have raised questions about the future direction of the Alliance.
Turkey has also prepared a new VIP airport, built on the basis of a former military airport, which will serve to host high-level delegations.
The summit is expected to focus on increasing defense spending and defining the future role of the United States within NATO. Another central topic will be preserving the unity of the Alliance, following Trump's criticism of some allies for their lack of support for US military action against Iran and for efforts to guarantee navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
"An important aspect of the meeting is to see whether differences between the US and Europe can be softened during the summit," said Fatih Ceylan, Turkey's former ambassador to NATO and a security analyst at the Ankara Policy Center.
He added: "We shouldn't expect miracles, but there is an agreement to emphasize the importance of NATO and that would be an achievement."
According to the report, the organization of the summit in Turkey also influenced Donald Trump's decision to attend, given his close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"If it weren't organized by President Erdogan in Turkey, I don't think I would go," Trump told reporters after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House.
On the eve of the summit, Erdogan described Turkey as a reliable ally that bears important responsibilities on NATO's southeastern flank and said his country aims for the Ankara summit to remain a landmark in the Alliance's history.
Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 and has the second-largest army in the Alliance after the US. Its strategic position, at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, the Black Sea and the Caucasus, as well as its development of the defense industry, give it an important role within the organization.
However, Ankara has often pursued independent policies, refusing to join sanctions against Russia, engaging in disputes with Greece, and purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system. For this reason, in 2019, the US excluded Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program.
On the other hand, its independent policy has enabled Turkey to play a mediating role in several international crises, including the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea in 2022 and recent diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.
Turkey has also expressed dissatisfaction with some NATO allies, saying it did not receive sufficient support after the 2016 coup attempt and due to restrictions on arms exports following its military operations in Syria.
Germania po armatoset deri në dhëmbë dhe po dobësohet ekonomikisht, po ashtu të gjitha shtetet anëtare NATO po shpenzojnë miliarda. Amerika ja Ka arritur qellimit