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World leaders, senior delegations and members of the international press have gathered in Ankara as the 36th NATO Summit gets underway at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic alliance.
Hosted by Türkiye, the summit brings together leaders of NATO's 32 member states, Asia-Pacific partners and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks on defense investment, military production, support for Ukraine, regional security and burden-sharing.
The gathering opened with the NATO Defense Industry Forum, the largest such event in the alliance's history, bringing together government officials and defense companies to strengthen cooperation on defense production, procurement and industrial capacity.
As leaders continued to arrive in the Turkish capital, U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Ankara ahead of the summit's main sessions. During his first address at the Presidential Complex before a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump vowed to lift CAATSA sanctions on Ankara and boosted hopes for bringing Türkiye back into the F-35 program.
Widely seen as one of NATO's most consequential gatherings in recent years, the summit comes as the alliance seeks to bolster its deterrence, expand defense production and respond to mounting security challenges stretching from Europe to the Middle East.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said he hopes to see Turkish-made drones in Belgian airspace, telling Türkiye Today during NATO's Defense Industry Forum at ATO Congresium, held as part of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
The minister said that Belgium and Türkiye "are working good together."
Asked whether his recent visit to Istanbul could foreshadow a defense procurement deal, Francken said, "I hope so; we'll see."
Commenting on Brussels' approach to NATO's 5% defense spending target, Francken said, "We are stepping up incredibly, so we are doing the biggest increase in our defense spending among all NATO members. For the moment, we will obtain the 5%, but we have time until 2035, so we still have some years to go."
As part of the NATO Ankara Summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper arrived at Ankara Airport.
Prime Minister Starmer and Secretary Cooper were welcomed at the airport by Türkiye’s Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu.
The 2026 NATO summit is underway in Ankara, bringing together leaders from the alliance's 32 member states, partner countries and the EU for two days of talks on defense, security and transatlantic cooperation.
Day one has been dominated by NATO’s push to expand defense production and industrial cooperation.
US President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remove the CAATSA sanctions imposed on Türkiye, signaling a major shift in bilateral relations during a high-level meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off ... We don’t want to sanction friends,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
The US president said he is coordinating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to finalize the decision.
A NATO official who spoke to Türkiye Today, on the condition of anonymity, stated on Tuesday that integrating Ukraine into the alliance's operations is "not on the table at this time," even as Ukrainian troops take part in NATO drills and Kyiv escalates its drone campaign deep inside Russia.
Asked whether Ukraine's growing role in NATO exercises and counter-drone defense work signaled a step toward official integration into alliance operations, the NATO official said two separate concepts were at play.
"I think two different concepts are going on over here. You are talking about integration; it's not on the table at this time, but the collaboration that we have with Ukraine is extremely important. Currently, we are learning a lot from them; they are the most battle-ready armed forces on the planet at this time, and these are lessons we want to bring into the NATO enterprise. We have dedicated officers for this who work on this full time in Poland."
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington will lift CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye and consider restoring the country's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program during a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
"We will make a decision on the F-35 issue. Our relationship is very good right now," Trump told reporters when asked about the potential F-35 sale. On CAATSA sanctions, he added: "The time has come. We will do it."
Erdogan welcomed the remarks, saying the F-35 issue had long been under discussion with Washington. "I believe this leaders' summit will produce a favorable decision on the F-35 issue," he said, adding that Trump had previously promised five F-35 fighter jets and had always kept his word.
Erdogan also said he expects Trump to reaffirm his support for engines for Türkiye's indigenous KAAN fighter jet.
U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began bilateral talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, where alliance leaders are meeting to discuss defense spending and regional security.
After being welcomed by Erdogan with an official ceremony, the two leaders are holding one-on-one and delegation-level talks before making statements to the media.
The talks are expected to focus on defense cooperation, including Türkiye's possible return to the F-35 fighter jet program, modernization of its F-16 fleet and expanded defense industrial ties.
The leaders are also expected to discuss Syria, the broader Middle East, the war in Ukraine, trade and investment, as well as NATO's plans to raise defense spending and strengthen the alliance's industrial base.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, where alliance leaders are gathering for two days of talks on defense spending, military production and regional security.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally welcomed Trump upon his arrival at Esenboga Airport before the U.S. leader headed to the summit venue.
The two presidents are scheduled to attend an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Complex before holding bilateral and delegation-level talks expected to focus on regional and international issues. They are also expected to hold a joint news conference later in the day.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit hosted by Türkiye.
Lee's aircraft landed at Ankara Esenboga Airport, where he was welcomed by Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and other officials.
The South Korean leader is expected to join fellow world leaders for the NATO summit, which is taking place in the Turkish capital.
Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler backed NATO's 5% defense investment pledge on Tuesday, calling it a concrete step to strengthen the alliance's deterrence and defense production.
Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, he urged allies to quickly turn commitments into real capabilities, saying, "The fundamental question for all of us is this: How quickly can we turn our commitments into real capabilities?"
Guler said the war in Ukraine and recent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted the need for stronger defense industries, resilient supply chains and faster military production.
He also highlighted Türkiye's defense sector, citing the KAAN fighter jet, Altay main battle tank, expanded 155 mm ammunition production and the simultaneous construction of dozens of military vessels as examples of the country's growing industrial capacity, adding, "Let us turn our resources into production. Let us transform our industrial strength into deterrence."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Finnish President Alexander Stubb as part of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara.
The summit, hosted by Türkiye on July 7-8, brings together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states and key partners at a critical moment for the alliance. The Ankara gathering is expected to focus on defense investment, support for Ukraine, regional security challenges and the future of burden-sharing among allies.
The meeting came as world leaders, senior delegations and international media gathered in the Turkish capital, with NATO seeking to project unity and solidarity despite recent transatlantic tensions.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he is open to delivering F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye following a New York Times report that President Donald Trump is considering restoring Ankara's access to the program. Speaking during the NATO summit in Ankara, Graham acknowledged the proposal could face resistance in Congress.
"There might be some pushback in Congress. Türkiye's relations with Israel are not very helpful in Congress," Graham told Türkiye Today, adding that he believes a solution could still be found. He also described Türkiye as "a great ally and the only Muslim nation in NATO."
Earlier, The New York Times reported that Trump is expected to signal his willingness to restore Türkiye's access to the F-35 program, though legal and congressional hurdles tied to Ankara's S-400 air defense system remain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at Esenboga Airport to attend the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, hosted by Türkiye on July 7-8. The summit brings together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states and key partners at a critical moment for the alliance.
Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit. The Ankara gathering is expected to focus on support for Ukraine, defense investment, regional security challenges and the future of burden-sharing among allies.
Hosted at the Bestepe Presidential Compound, the summit is being closely followed by international media as NATO seeks to project unity and solidarity despite recent transatlantic tensions.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced three new multinational defense initiatives on Tuesday during the opening of the NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, as the alliance kicked off its 2026 summit with a focus on strengthening joint procurement and defense industrial cooperation.
The projects include additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to enhance NATO's strategic airlift and aerial refueling capacity, the joint procurement of MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft to boost intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and the acquisition of up to 10 Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft to replace the alliance's aging AWACS fleet.
Speaking at the forum, Rutte said the new initiatives reflect NATO's push to turn higher defense spending into concrete capabilities through joint procurement and closer industrial cooperation. The two-day summit continues on Wednesday with leaders set to discuss defense investment, support for Ukraine and expanding the alliance's defense industrial base.
The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit commenced in Ankara on Tuesday, with the opening of the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, placing transatlantic defense production, investment and industrial cooperation at the forefront of the alliance's agenda.
The Defense Industry Forum, NATO's premier high-level gathering on transatlantic defense production and innovation, focuses on boosting industrial capacity, accelerating joint procurement, expanding co-production and strengthening supply chains. For the first time, the event also features a series of national, multinational and industry-led announcements on new defense initiatives and agreements.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to deliver keynote remarks alongside Turkish officials, while plenary sessions will examine industrial preparedness, financing defense capabilities and scaling up innovation across the alliance.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday that the NATO summit in Ankara will help shape the alliance's future and adapt its structures to an increasingly complex security environment.
In a post on X as the two-day summit got underway, Fidan said the decisions taken in Ankara "will not merely address immediate challenges" but "will shape the Euro-Atlantic security environment for the years ahead."
He argued that collective defense remains NATO's core mission but that the alliance must adapt to evolving threats, adding that a stronger European contribution is essential while warning that restrictions on defense-industrial cooperation have become "strategic liabilities." Fidan also stressed that European defense initiatives must remain fully inclusive of all NATO allies.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also called for deeper NATO cooperation, saying Türkiye now serves as a bridge "between West and West" while urging allies to strengthen burden-sharing beyond defense spending.
Türkiye's Defense Minister Yasar Guler called on European countries on Tuesday to take on more responsibility within NATO, arguing that a stronger European role should reinforce the alliance rather than compete with it.
Speaking at the "Allies in Ankara" program ahead of the NATO summit, Guler said Europe faces an increasingly complex security environment and urged allies to step up their contributions.
He welcomed higher European defense spending but stressed that new initiatives should complement NATO rather than create alternative security structures.
"A stronger European pillar should reinforce the transatlantic bond while NATO remains the cornerstone of Europe's collective defense," he said, adding that European defense initiatives should remain open to non-EU NATO allies. "Excluding Türkiye... will not make Europe more secure."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived at Ankara Etimesgut Airport on Tuesday to attend the NATO leaders' summit, becoming the first head of government to reach the Turkish capital for the gathering.
Carney was welcomed by Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek upon his arrival.
The Canadian leader is scheduled to attend an official welcoming ceremony hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later Tuesday.
Following his arrival in Ankara, Carney joined fellow NATO leaders for the alliance's summit at the Presidential Complex, where he was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an official reception ceremony.
Erdogan later held a closed-door meeting with the Canadian prime minister as part of a series of bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit.
The meeting was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and Akif Cagatay Kilic, Erdogan's chief adviser on security and foreign policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged Congress to quickly approve legislation that includes $350 billion in additional defense spending, as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for a summit focused on burden-sharing and allied defense capabilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the U.S. military has reached unprecedented strength, pointing to record recruitment levels and high morale while calling for lawmakers to make defense funding their top priority once Congress returns.
"The United States Military has never been stronger, or more powerful. No other Nation can do what we do (It's not even close!)," Trump wrote.
He called on House and Senate leaders to move forward with Reconciliation 3.0, which includes $350 billion for defense, alongside the proposed Save America Act. He also urged congressional leadership to make the package its "Number One Priority."
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that European security cannot be limited to the European Union and called for a broader approach that recognizes Türkiye as a central player.
Speaking at an event in Ankara organized by the Foreign Ministry's Center for Strategic Research (SAM) and Chatham House, Fidan urged NATO to shift its focus toward long-term strategic capacity rather than simply responding to immediate threats.
He also voiced confidence that differences between the United States and Europe would remain manageable at the NATO summit, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump's participation is important for keeping those challenges under control.
Fidan reiterated Türkiye's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity while stressing that maintaining diplomatic channels with Russia remains essential for European security.
He argued that NATO's defense industrial cooperation should extend beyond the EU, describing countries such as Türkiye and the United Kingdom as natural partners due to their strong defense industries.
Calling on Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense, Fidan said U.S. demands for more burden-sharing should not be viewed as psychological pressure or a threat. He added that the most difficult part of preparations for the Ankara summit had been persuading Trump to attend, saying that hurdle had now been overcome.
U.S. President Donald Trump left Washington late Monday for Ankara, where he is set to attend the NATO leaders' summit and hold high-level talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reports indicate possible progress on Türkiye's long-stalled bid to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program.
Air Force One departed Joint Base Andrews at 9:41 p.m. local time (1:41 a.m. GMT Tuesday) after the presidential motorcade left the White House earlier in the evening, according to the White House pool report.
Traveling with Trump are senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with other White House aides.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon and will be welcomed by Erdogan during a state arrival ceremony before the two leaders sit down for bilateral talks.
Before departing, Trump told reporters he was attending the summit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"I'm going because of Erdogan," he said, describing the Turkish leader as "a friend" and "a respected leader" while signaling the two countries could deepen defense cooperation.
Ahead of the summit, The New York Times reported that Trump is expected to tell Erdogan he is prepared to restore Türkiye's access to the F-35 program after weeks of internal discussions among U.S. national security officials aimed at breaking the impasse.
The report, citing four senior administration officials, noted that Trump could signal his intention to move forward, although the timing remains uncertain.
The report also noted that any effort to resume deliveries could run into congressional and legal hurdles. Congress has previously blocked F-35 sales to Türkiye unless the administration determines that Ankara no longer possesses the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.
Trump last month hinted that he was likely to take a step that would make Erdogan "very happy" when asked about Türkiye's request for F-35 fighter jets and aircraft engines.
Washington removed Türkiye from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara acquired the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, arguing that the missile system could compromise the aircraft and be incompatible with NATO defenses.
Türkiye has consistently rejected that argument, maintaining that the S-400 and F-35 can coexist without conflict.
Ankara has also argued that it fulfilled all of its commitments under the F-35 program, describing its removal as a breach of the agreement, and has repeatedly proposed forming a joint technical commission to examine the issue.
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