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NATO will hold its 2026 leaders summit July 7-8 in Ankara, with leaders meeting at the Presidential Complex in Türkiye's second major NATO summit hosting after Istanbul in 2004.
The summit will focus on strengthening defense capabilities, military readiness, and modernization; preparing for "non-traditional threats," including cybersecurity and critical infrastructure defense; and revitalizing trans-Atlantic cooperation with burden-sharing on defense spending, according to Turkish media outlet Hurriyet's Hande Firat report on Tuesday.
Turkish authorities have launched extensive preparations, including runway renovations at the Etimesgut military base and relocating the VIP terminal there to accommodate leaders' aircraft, with both Etimesgut and Esenboga airports to be used during the summit.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to lead a large American delegation to Ankara, with preliminary discussions underway for a potential bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan either before or after the NATO summit at the Presidential Complex.
Five countries, led by the United States, have already reserved five entire hotels for their delegations, according to the report.
Each country's delegation will include medical teams with their own doctors, while Ankara is preparing two ambulances and medical teams for each leader's convoy.
The U.S. Secret Service and the White House Military Office apply a "one-hour rule," requiring the president to remain within one hour's drive (approximately 50-70 kilometers) of the landing point to ensure quick evacuation in case of a medical emergency, security threat, or diplomatic crisis.
Turkish security forces will implement comprehensive air and ground security measures, including the closure of some roads during the summit dates.
Administrative leave is being considered for non-essential government workers during the summit period.
"Türkiye will, as the saying goes, not let a bird fly in Ankara," the report stated, describing the extensive security preparations involving all Turkish security forces alongside foreign protection teams.
The relocation of the VIP terminal to Etimesgut, while already on Ankara's agenda, has been accelerated due to the NATO summit. The runway at Etimesgut is being renovated to accommodate the expected influx of leaders' aircraft, including Air Force One.
Türkiye's hosting of the summit carries several strategic dimensions, emphasizing its weight within NATO and role in the security arena as a bridge between Eurasia and the Middle East.
The summit offers Türkiye an opportunity to highlight its defense, diplomacy, and security cooperation networks while enhancing its domestic prestige.
During a period of intensified regional crises and security threats, Türkiye's hosting makes NATO's "southern flank" and the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Middle East regions more visible.
All NATO member countries' heads of state or government are expected to attend, with some non-member or partner countries potentially invited as observers. While participation numbers remain uncertain, numerous leaders, including Trump, are expected in Ankara.
The summit agenda will address defense capabilities enhancement, non-traditional threats, including cyber and energy security, the renewal of trans-Atlantic cooperation, and NATO's capacity to handle regional crises and global security challenges.
At the 2025 Hague Summit, all members committed to increasing defense spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), a commitment expected to be reviewed in Ankara.
The July 2026 Ankara summit is viewed as signaling NATO's transition to a new strategic period, testing the alliance's defense paradigm, burden distribution, regional security perspective and Türkiye's geopolitical role.
"For Türkiye, the summit represents both a prestigious hosting opportunity and a decisive moment in the security-diplomacy axis," according to Firat's reporting.
"For the alliance, it offers potential acceleration on long-postponed agendas, including the 'southern line,' defense spending, and new threats," the report added.
The approaching summit creates a threshold for Türkiye in the defense industry, infrastructure investments, and diplomacy, with preparations accelerated at both the local and regional levels.
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