Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte engaged in discussions on Monday about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and potential measures to address the massacre in Palestine. This meeting, which took place in the capital city of Ankara, was reported by Trkiye’s Communications Directorate.
According to Anadolu Agency, the dialogue between Erdogan and Rutte also highlighted several critical issues, including collaborative efforts to combat terrorism. They deliberated on Trkiye’s potential role in hosting the 2026 NATO summit and the importance of NATO allies standing in solidarity with Ankara, particularly concerning the supply of defense industry equipment. The discussions further underlined Trkiye’s significant contributions as a NATO ally, as emphasized in a statement by the directorate.
President Erdogan expressed gratitude to Rutte for his supportive messages following a recent terror attack targeting the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in Ankara.
Meanwhile, Rutte conveyed on X that their conversation covered topics such as terrorism threats, the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East crisis. He acknowledged Trkiye’s invaluable contributions to NATO, especially in a world marked by unpredictability.
The meeting at the Presidential Complex was attended by notable figures, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and top presidential advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic. This visit marked Rutte’s first official trip to Trkiye since assuming his position as NATO Secretary General last month.
During his visit, Rutte also engaged in bilateral meetings. The Foreign Ministry reported that Fidan held independent discussions with the NATO chief. Additionally, Rutte met with Guler at the National Defense Ministry as part of his itinerary in Ankara.
Rutte, along with his delegation, paid a visit to the Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters in the capital. This visit included a significant br
iefing and consultation meeting on Trkiye’s defense industry with the NATO delegation. Haluk Gorgun, head of the Defense Industry Agency, who was present at the meeting, highlighted the discussions on Trkiye’s robust presence in NATO, the necessity for sustainable defense industry cooperation with NATO countries, and the potential for future joint projects.
Rutte, previously a Dutch premier, assumed the role of NATO’s 14th secretary-general in October, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Trkiye has been an integral member of the alliance since 1952, marking over 70 years of contribution.