Türkiye's Fidan hosts NATO foreign ministers at Ankara summit

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday chaired two high-level ministerial meetings as part of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit taking place in Ankara, with the gatherings bringing together allied foreign ministers to discuss pressing security matters and strengthen diplomatic ties under Türkiye's hosting duties. The sessions included the NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative foreign ministers meeting and the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting at the foreign minister level, both convened under the framework of the summit, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Regional Cooperation Frameworks

The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative session focused on enhancing partnership between NATO and Gulf countries, addressing shared security concerns in the wider Middle East region. Fidan presided over discussions aimed at deepening practical cooperation between the alliance and ICI partners, with participants examining mechanisms for improved diplomatic coordination on regional stability challenges.

Separately, the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting provided a direct platform for dialogue between Kyiv and allied foreign ministers regarding ongoing security developments. The ministry noted that Fidan emphasized Türkiye's continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity during the discussions, while also highlighting the importance of sustainable peace initiatives.

Hosting History

The Ankara gathering marks only the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye since the 2004 Istanbul summit nearly two decades prior — underscoring Ankara's sustained commitment to the alliance's southern flank presence. Turkish officials indicated that the event serves as a venue for bilateral talks between Ankara and allied capitals on political, security and economic cooperation, with several side meetings scheduled throughout the summit's duration.