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Only 26% of Turks view NATO membership as 'beneficial': Poll

A view from the Distinguished Observer Day activities of the 'Denizkurdu-2/2026' (Sea Wolf) Exercise held in the Gulf of Antalya, Türkiye, June 11, 2026. (AA Photo)
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A view from the Distinguished Observer Day activities of the 'Denizkurdu-2/2026' (Sea Wolf) Exercise held in the Gulf of Antalya, Türkiye, June 11, 2026. (AA Photo)
June 12, 2026 09:44 AM GMT+03:00

Less than a month before NATO leaders gather in Ankara for the alliance's annual summit, a majority of Turkish voters view the country's membership as neither beneficial nor harmful.

Only about one in four described it as positive, according to the ANK-AR Voter Agenda Survey conducted in May 2026.

43.9% say NATO membership 'neither beneficial nor harmful'

The largest single response category was "neither beneficial nor harmful" at 43.9%, followed by "beneficial" at 20.9% and "very beneficial" at 5.1%, bringing the combined positive assessment to approximately 26%.

Those viewing membership as harmful or very harmful combined for 10.8%, while 9.7% said they were undecided, and 9.6% had no opinion.

The survey's breakdown by party preference in parliamentary elections showed significant variation across the political spectrum.

Respondents aligned with the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) showed the highest combined beneficial rating at 58.3%, followed by Good Party (Iyi Parti) supporters at 57.8%.

Supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) were more muted, with 30.1% in the beneficial categories and 44.2% in the neutral category. Voters associated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Victory Party showed the highest negative ratings.

TCG Barbaros (F-244) frigate of the Turkish Navy, as part of the Denizkurdu-2/2026 Exercise, in Mugla, Türkiye, on June 7, 2026. (AA Photo)
TCG Barbaros (F-244) frigate of the Turkish Navy, as part of the Denizkurdu-2/2026 Exercise, in Mugla, Türkiye, on June 7, 2026. (AA Photo)

Ankara to host NATO Summit July 7-8

The Ankara summit, set for July 7-8 at the Presidential Complex, comes 22 years after Istanbul hosted a meeting widely regarded as a landmark in the alliance's transformation from a collective defense organization into a broader global security actor.

This year's gathering is expected to address trans-Atlantic burden-sharing, the Ukraine war, the Middle East conflict, and the alliance's long-term strategic direction.

June 12, 2026 09:54 AM GMT+03:00
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