Türkiye hosts NATO defense ministers at new Ay Yildiz headquarters

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Tuesday hosted a reception for NATO defense ministers at the under-construction Ay Yildiz Joint Headquarters in Ankara, marking the first gathering of alliance military chiefs at the state-of-the-art complex during the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. The event was held in the Yildiz section of the sprawling facility, according to a statement from the National Defense Ministry posted on its official social media account.

Guler received the guests at the entrance before delivering remarks to the assembled ministers. The reception formed part of Türkiye's hosting duties for the two-day summit, which has drawn leaders and senior officials from across the alliance to the capital.

Consolidated command center

The Ay Yildiz complex — named for the crescent and star of the Turkish flag — consolidates the National Defense Ministry, the General Staff, and the commands of the Land, Naval and Air Forces in a single location. Officials noted that the facility was designed to streamline joint operations and enhance command capabilities while replacing scattered administrative centers.

The smart building concept incorporates environmentally friendly architecture and advanced technological infrastructure intended to meet both current and future operational requirements. Its distinctive design and consolidated structure represent a strategic upgrade to Türkiye's national defense coordination.

NATO 3.0 agenda

The Ankara summit brings together heads of state from NATO’s 32 member states alongside partners from the Asia-Pacific region and invited guests including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Talks are expected to highlight allied unity despite recent transatlantic tensions, according to diplomatic sources.

A key focus falls on the proposed NATO 3.0 framework, under which European allies would assume a leading role in conventional defense while the United States reassesses its military posture on the continent. The gathering marks the first major test of alliance cohesion since the new strategic vision was floated earlier this year.