Emine Erdoğan hopes NATO summit strengthens trust, cooperation

First lady Emine Erdoğan shared her hopes for the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara on Thursday, expressing optimism that the gathering would strengthen mutual trust and foster a stronger culture of cooperation among allies. “I hope the NATO Ankara Summit brings benefits to our country and to humanity,” she wrote on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

A historic turning point

“I wish this historic summit to become a turning point that reinforces trust for humanity, strengthens the culture of reconciliation, and opens the door to new hopes,” Emine Erdoğan added, sharing a video featuring scenes from the summit. Her remarks underscored the symbolic significance of the meeting, which marked only the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye, following the 2004 Istanbul summit.

Diplomatic platform

The Ankara summit provided a platform not only for formal alliance discussions but also for bilateral meetings between Türkiye and allied and partner nations on political, security and economic cooperation. Emine Erdoğan’s message reflected Türkiye’s broader vision of using the summit to enhance dialogue and solidarity within the alliance, while also showcasing the country’s growing diplomatic and cultural presence on the international stage. Her comments were widely shared across Turkish media, emphasizing the importance of the event for both Türkiye and the wider transatlantic community.