Fidan meets Rubio on NATO sidelines in Helsingborg

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday during the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden. The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting in a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, noting that the two top diplomats held talks on the sidelines of the alliance gathering.

Preparations for Ankara summit

The meeting comes as NATO allies prepare for the July leaders’ summit in Ankara, where transatlantic burden‑sharing, defence spending, and the alliance’s response to the Iran war are expected to dominate the agenda. Fidan and Rubio last spoke by phone in April to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Turkey and the US have also been coordinating on the Black Sea grain corridor, Syria, and counter‑terrorism.

No further details

While the Turkish Foreign Ministry did not disclose the specific topics discussed, such bilateral meetings typically cover regional crises, bilateral defence cooperation, and preparations for the upcoming summit. The Helsingborg gathering is the final foreign ministers’ meeting before the Ankara summit, making it a key moment to align positions among allies. Türkiye has increasingly positioned itself as an indispensable NATO member bridging Europe, the Black Sea, and the Middle East.