Erdogan hosts EU leaders during NATO summit in Ankara

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a working dinner on Wednesday as part of diplomatic engagements during the NATO summit held at the presidential complex in Ankara, with the closed-door discussions focusing on bilateral ties and regional security cooperation.

Türkiye's foreign policy now key global force, official says

Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran said Wednesday that Türkiye has evolved from a regional actor into an influential force in the global system, highlighting Ankara's central role in the "NATO 3.0" vision and its diplomatic efforts to secure calm in Gaza and Lebanon.

Erdogan declares NATO summit 'historic' success in Ankara

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the 2026 NATO summit a "historic" success on Wednesday, highlighting Türkiye's leading defense capabilities within the alliance and confirming positive discussions with Washington regarding F-35 fighter jet deliveries and bilateral military cooperation.

Trump lauds Erdogan as 'great leader,' hails Ankara summit

US President Donald Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a "great leader" and long-time friend on Wednesday as the two-day NATO summit concluded in Ankara, saying the alliance demonstrated "tremendous unity" while urging members to accelerate plans to meet the 5% GDP defense spending benchmark.

US vows to 'knock the hell out of' Iran if Hormuz shipping attacked

Vice President JD Vance said Washington will resume military strikes if Tehran continues targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Iran of violating a recent agreement to halt attacks within a week of its signing.

Erdogan hosts Syria's Sharaa at NATO summit in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed strengthening bilateral ties and regional stability during a closed-door meeting in Ankara on Wednesday, with the summit taking place as Ankara hosts NATO leaders for a two-day gathering focused on defense and security.

Turkish FM: NATO Ankara summit concluded successfully

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared the NATO summit in Ankara a success, noting that all allies attended at the leaders' level as a sign of confidence in Türkiye and President Erdoğan. He said the summit laid the foundations for “a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO” under the NATO 3.0 vision.

Merz says Ankara summit marks dawn of 'new, more European' NATO

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday praised the Ankara summit as the dawn of a new era for NATO in which European nations assume greater responsibility for their own defense, acknowledging that US President Donald Trump was right to criticize years of European underinvestment.

US senators say Türkiye’s return to F-35 program would benefit NATO’s defense capacity

US senators have stated that Türkiye’s potential return to the F-35 fighter jet program would be a positive step for both Ankara and Washington. Senator Jeanne Shaheen said Türkiye’s defense industry infrastructure is widely recognised in Congress for its contributions to NATO, though concerns over the S‑400 system remain.

Iran vows to answer US 'vulgarity' with 'action' after Trump insults

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran responds to "vulgarity" with action rather than words after US President Donald Trump threatened further military strikes against the Islamic Republic and called Iranians "scum" while speaking on the margins of the NATO summit in Ankara.

Iran threatens to close Hormuz Strait completely if US resumes strikes

An Iranian security source told state media on Wednesday that Tehran will completely block the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic following any new American military strikes, vowing to retaliate against enemy targets at a ratio of two-to-one as regional tensions reach new heights.

US redeploys refueling aircraft to Middle East amid Iran escalation

The US has begun returning aerial refueling aircraft to its Middle East bases amid rising tensions with Iran. Israeli officials believe Washington would greenlight an Israeli response to Tehran. The move follows an exchange of strikes between the US and Iran, with Trump declaring the ceasefire “over.”

US launches fresh strikes on Iran after Trump warns ceasefire ‘over’

US Central Command announced a new round of strikes against Iran to degrade Tehran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation came hours after President Trump declared the US-Iran memorandum “over” and said further strikes were likely.

Erdoğan, Macron hold closed-door talks on NATO sidelines

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met French President Emmanuel Macron in Ankara for closed-door talks on the margins of the NATO summit. The meeting covered bilateral relations and regional issues.

Erdoğan welcomes NATO leaders as Ankara summit kicks off

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed NATO leaders at the 36th summit in Ankara, greeting each head of state including President Trump. A family photo was taken before Erdoğan and Secretary General Rutte delivered opening remarks, with defence investment and Ukraine topping the agenda.

Erdoğan receives Italy’s Meloni for talks in Ankara

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Ankara for closed-door talks on the second day of the NATO summit. The meeting covered bilateral relations and regional issues.

Erdoğan calls for lifting defence restrictions among NATO allies

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for the removal of restrictions on defence cooperation among NATO allies, warning against policies that could undermine alliance cohesion. He also announced Türkiye has earmarked $24 billion for its Steel Dome air and missile defence project.

Türkiye defense industry touts $11B exports at NATO summit

The Defense Industries Secretariat announced that Türkiye's defense and aerospace exports exceeded $11 billion over the past 12 months, with approximately 56 percent destined for fellow NATO countries, emphasizing Ankara's role as a trusted partner while the alliance summit convenes in the capital this week.

Trump warns US will 'probably' hit Iran again Wednesday night

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the United States will 'probably' conduct additional military strikes against Iran later in the evening, declaring that a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict was 'over' as Washington responds to recent attacks on shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

NATO reaffirms unity, collective defense in Ankara declaration

NATO leaders adopted the Ankara Summit Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to Article 5 and collective defense. They announced over $50 billion in new defense procurements and pledged €70 billion in military support for Ukraine in 2026.

Syrian president meets US congressional delegation, Trump's envoy in Ankara

Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa held a meeting in Ankara with a US congressional delegation and US envoy Tom Barrack, with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani also in attendance. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the NATO summit hosted by Türkiye.

Turkish, Romanian, Bulgarian ministers sign Black Sea security amendment

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met his Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts in Ankara, signing an amendment to expand the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group’s mandate. The agreement now includes protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Black Sea.

Aselsan: Türkiye can deliver advanced radar, air defense systems to NATO allies within 2 years

Turkish defense firm Aselsan can deliver its most advanced radar and air defense systems to NATO allies in less than two years, CEO Ahmet Akyol said. He highlighted a 40% increase in serial production capacity over the past two years and a $2 billion air defense infrastructure investment.

Turkish defense industry positioned as key pillar of NATO deterrence

A panel at the Ankara summit highlighted Türkiye’s defense industry as a key contributor to NATO’s deterrence, production, and interoperability goals. Roketsan and ASELSAN CEOs emphasized Türkiye’s supply chain strength, production capacity, and role in converting defense budgets into concrete military capabilities.

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