President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey is a strong ally within NATO and that a new era for the alliance has materialized in Ankara [1].
This positioning comes as Turkey prepares to host high-level military and political leadership, signaling Ankara's intent to leverage its strategic geography and military assets to increase its influence within the Western security architecture.
Erdoğan made the remarks on June 24, 2026, following a cabinet meeting [1]. He said that the upcoming NATO Heads of State and Government Summit will serve as a focal point for this renewed partnership. "Trump including all leaders accepted our invitation," Erdoğan said [1].
Donald Trump described Erdoğan as a "great leader" and a "very strong person," adding that his army is "great" [1].
NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretary Benedetta Berti echoed the sentiment of Turkey's importance to the alliance. Berti said the alliance looks at three primary criteria: resources, capability, and contribution. She said it is clear that Turkey is a strong ally across all three of those categories [2].
Preparations for the summit include a preliminary meeting in Istanbul on June 29, 2026 [2]. The main NATO Heads of State and Government Summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026 [2].
Turkey's emphasis on its defense resources and operational contributions aims to solidify its role in NATO operations. The timing of the summit suggests a concerted effort to align Turkish strategic interests with the broader goals of the alliance during a period of shifting global security dynamics.
“"Trump including all leaders accepted our invitation."”
By hosting the NATO summit and securing public endorsements from key figures like Donald Trump and Benedetta Berti, Turkey is attempting to transition from a perceived 'problematic' member to an indispensable strategic pillar. The focus on 'resources, capability, and contribution' suggests that Ankara is using its military hardware and regional intelligence as leverage to ensure its security concerns are prioritized in the alliance's new operational phase.
