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World leaders, senior delegations, and members of the international press have gathered in Ankara as the 36th NATO Summit officially gets underway at a critical moment for the transatlantic alliance.
Hosted by Türkiye at the Bestepe Presidential Compound, the summit brings together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states and key partners for two days of high-level diplomacy.
The agenda is expected to focus on defense investment, strengthening the alliance’s defense industry, support for Ukraine, regional security challenges, and the future of burden-sharing among allies.
Described as one of the most consequential summits in NATO’s recent history, the Ankara gathering comes as the alliance faces mounting security pressures from Europe to the Middle East, while Türkiye seeks to highlight its strategic role at the crossroads of NATO’s eastern and southern flanks.
The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit is being held in Ankara on July 7–8, hosted by Türkiye.
Alongside the 32 member states, leaders of Asia-Pacific NATO partners and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are attending. On the summit's first day, leaders will convene at what is described as the most comprehensive NATO Defense Industry Forum held to date.
The summit's main agenda items—including Europe assuming primary responsibility for conventional defense and the "NATO 3.0" vision for recalibrating the U.S. military presence in Europe—will be addressed in sessions on the second day.
Unity and solidarity remain the top expectations for the summit, despite recent transatlantic tensions.
The Ankara summit is drawing a massive international media presence.
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.
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 point to possible movement 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 is 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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