Erdogan: Türkiye intensifies NATO summit preparations, warns against threats to stability

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Wednesday that Türkiye has ramped up preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, aiming to make it a “reference point in NATO’s history.” Addressing his AK Party’s parliamentary group, Erdogan welcomed President Trump’s planned attendance at the July 7-8 summit as “a valuable step for the alliance’s cohesion.” He emphasized that Türkiye’s security extends beyond its borders, saying: “Türkiye’s security begins not in Hatay, but in Aleppo, Damascus, and Beirut.”

Warnings on Israel and Eastern Mediterranean

Erdogan warned against the “delusion of the Promised Land” and said Türkiye will never allow it. He cautioned against alignment with Israel, saying: “No one should seek adventure. No one should follow in the wake of the Zionist massacre network.” He warned that if Israel’s “banditry” is not stopped, the entire world will bear the consequences. “Israel must be stopped. This is the duty of humanity,” he said. He also warned that any challenge to Türkiye’s rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean would receive “a very clear and very harsh” response.

Summit context

The Ankara NATO summit comes at a time of heightened global tensions, including the Iran war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Türkiye, as host, will seek to balance its role as a NATO ally with its independent foreign policy, including its relations with Russia and Iran. Erdogan’s reference to Aleppo, Damascus, and Beirut underscores Türkiye’s direct interest in Syria and Lebanon, where it has military and humanitarian operations.