Ankara is preparing to welcome world leaders for the NATO 2026 Leaders Summit, scheduled for July 7–8, 2026. The event will take place at the Presidential Complex, marking Türkiye’s second time hosting a major NATO summit since Istanbul in 2004.
Ankara set to host landmark NATO gathering after two decades
According to Turkish media outlet Hürriyet, preparations are already in full swing across Ankara. The summit will focus on strengthening defense capabilities, improving military readiness, and tackling non-traditional threats such as cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. Another major topic will be revitalizing trans-Atlantic cooperation, with an emphasis on fairer burden-sharing in defense spending among member nations.
Turkish officials have launched an extensive series of logistical and security preparations. These include runway renovations at the Etimesgut military base and relocating the VIP terminal there to manage the arrival and departure of international leaders’ aircraft. Both Etimesgut and Esenboğa airports will be operational during the event to accommodate the heavy air traffic expected in July 2026.
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Hosting the summit gives Ankara and Türkiye a platform to underline their strategic position between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as their growing role in regional and global security efforts.
U.S. President Trump to attend with a large delegation
One of the most anticipated moments of the summit will be the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to lead a large American delegation to Ankara. Reports suggest that discussions are already underway for a potential bilateral meeting between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan either before or after the NATO summit.
Security and logistics preparations for visiting delegations are massive in scale. According to Hürriyet’s report by Hande Fırat, five countries, led by the United States, have already reserved entire hotels in Ankara for their officials and staff. Each delegation will also bring its own medical teams and doctors, while the Turkish authorities are assigning two ambulances and medical teams for each leader’s convoy to ensure rapid emergency response.
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The U.S. Secret Service and the White House Military Office follow a strict “one-hour rule,” which means the U.S. President must remain within one hour’s drive (about 50–70 kilometers) of the landing zone at all times. This rule allows for a quick evacuation in case of a medical emergency, security threat, or diplomatic crisis.
The summit will attract hundreds of international delegates, security personnel, journalists, and staff, making it one of the largest diplomatic gatherings in Ankara in recent years.
Ankara strengthens security ahead of NATO 2026 Leaders Summit
Turkish authorities have announced extensive air and ground security measures across Ankara. Authorities will close roads in several key zones during the summit dates and may grant administrative leave to non-essential government workers to minimize traffic congestion and maintain tight security.
According to the report, officials stated that “Türkiye will not let a bird fly in Ankara” during the summit — an expression symbolizing the high level of security that will be in place. All major Turkish security forces, including the police, gendarmerie, and intelligence units, will operate in coordination with foreign protection teams accompanying the visiting leaders.
The Etimesgut military base is undergoing major runway upgrades to handle the expected influx of military and government aircraft, including Air Force One. The VIP terminal relocation project, which had already been under discussion in Ankara, has now been fast-tracked due to the NATO summit preparations.
Ankara’s role as host holds strong symbolic and strategic importance, reaffirming Türkiye’s position as a key NATO ally linking the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Middle East. The summit will bring together all NATO heads of state and several partner nations to discuss defense spending, modernization, cyber and energy security, and crisis management.
At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, members agreed to raise defense spending as a share of GDP — a commitment expected to be reviewed in Ankara. The 2026 summit marks a key stage in NATO’s strategic transformation, highlighting Türkiye’s growing influence and organizational capacity.
As Ankara speeds up airport upgrades and security preparations, the city readies to host world leaders, underscoring its pivotal role in NATO’s evolving defense framework.