Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Türkiye has intensified preparations for the NATO Leaders Summit scheduled for July 7-8, 2026, in Ankara. He said, "We have intensified our preparations to ensure that the Ankara summit becomes a reference point in NATO's history" [1, 2, 3].

Erdogan welcomed former US President Donald Trump's announced personal attendance at the summit, calling it a "valuable step in terms of the alliance's cohesion." He emphasized that Trump's participation is crucial amid the complex geopolitics the alliance currently faces despite Trump's past criticism of NATO defense spending [1, 2, 3, 4]. Erdogan expressed hope that Trump's presence would send a strong signal of unity among NATO allies and draw global interest to the event [2, 3, 4].

In his address to his AK Party parliamentary group on June 10, Erdogan described Türkiye's security concerns as extending beyond its borders to neighboring areas like Aleppo, Damascus, and Beirut, stating, "Türkiye's security begins not in Hatay, but in Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut. Neither will we tolerate any faits accompli in our brothers' countries, nor will we turn a blind eye to aggression" [1, 2]. He called Syria and Lebanon independent states and "sister cities" of Istanbul, emphasizing close ties and urging against aggression or any attempts to change their status [2].

Erdogan sharply criticized Israel's actions in the region, warning, "If Israel's banditry is not stopped, the entire world, together with the region, will bear the consequences. Israel must be stopped. This is the duty of humanity ... history must not be allowed to repeat itself". He added, "No one should seek adventure. No one should follow in the wake of the Zionist massacre network" [1, 2].

He also issued a stern warning on the Eastern Mediterranean, saying, "If Türkiye's rights and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean are targeted, I want it to be known that our response will be very clear and very harsh" [1, 2].

Looking ahead, Erdogan noted Türkiye will host several major international events later this year, including the 77th International Astronautical Congress in October and COP31, the UN climate change conference, in Antalya from November 9 to 20 [2].

The NATO Leaders Summit will be held in Ankara on July 7-8, where Erdogan and other leaders expect Trump's attendance to have a significant impact on alliance unity and stability [1, 2, 3, 4].