Before the 36th NATO Leaders’ Summit to be held today, the heads of government and state of the alliance member countries landed in Ankara one after the other yesterday. The first person to arrive in the capital as part of the summit was NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte the day before.

In addition to US President Donald Trump, who was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the leaders who will attend the summit started to arrive in Ankara. Members of the Presidential Cabinet welcomed the heads of state and government separately.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as South Korea, Ukraine, North Macedonia,

Heads of state and government who will represent Estonia, Montenegro, Canada, Latvia, Finland, Netherlands, Croatia, Czechia, Bulgaria, Sweden, Albania, Iceland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Norway and Greece at the summit also came to Ankara. Towards the evening, the number of leaders who came to Ankara reached 30.

WELCOME WITH THE MEHTER MARCH
President Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan hosted a reception and official dinner at the Presidential Complex in honor of the heads of state and government and their spouses who came to Ankara within the scope of the NATO Summit. The leaders arrived at the ceremony reception area at the Presidential Complex with their official vehicles. The guests walked up the stairs accompanied by the marches played by the Janissary band. The leaders, who were welcomed one by one by President Erdoğan and First Lady Erdoğan, took a family photo and then went to the hall where the official dinner was held. While NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was the first to arrive at the reception, the last guest was US President Trump. The Erdoğan couple had a friendly conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. While President Erdoğan went to the dining hall with US President Trump, other heads of state and government were welcomed by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. The reception at the Social Complex witnessed warm dialogues and diplomatic contacts where leaders came together.

ALLIES MUST DO THEIR PART

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska stated that the NATO Summit is expected to be “a turning point” for the alliance and said that all allies should do their part. Shekerinska spoke at the program organized within the scope of the “NATO Summit Dialogues” event held in Ankara. Pointing out that they expected the summit to be a turning point for the alliance, Shekerinska said, “Last year’s summit in The Hague was not easy, because we had to commit to much stronger investments and expenditures in our defense field.

We made brave and historic decisions, but now in Ankara, we will show the even more important part. “In other words, we will show how we will turn these promises and commitments into concrete results and how we will fulfill the commitments we have made,” she said. Stating that the summit in question will be about “a change of mentality”, Shekerinska noted that the aim is to strengthen collective defense and to have a stronger Europe in a stronger alliance in line with the “NATO 3.0” vision.

NATO has published the estimated defense expenditure data of member countries for 2026.

Accordingly, it is predicted that the total defense expenditures of NATO member countries will increase by approximately 11 percent compared to the previous year and reach 1 trillion 809 billion 915 million dollars in 2026.

This figure was at the level of 1 trillion 482 billion 905 million dollars in 2024 and 1 trillion 629 billion 630 million dollars in 2025.

THE USA WILL UNDERTAKE 57 PERCENT OF THE ALLIANCE’S TOTAL EXPENDITURES ON IT’S OWN

This year, the USA will spend the most on defense among NATO countries. The USA is expected to undertake approximately 57 percent of the alliance’s total expenditures alone, with defense expenditures of 1 trillion 32 billion 849 million dollars in 2026.

The USA will be followed by Germany with 147 billion dollars, England with 110 billion dollars, France with 80 billion dollars, Italy with 57 billion dollars, Poland with 53 billion dollars and Canada with 52 billion dollars. It is estimated that Türkiye’s defense expenditure in 2026 will be at the level of 48 billion dollars.

According to data, the basic defense expenditures of the 5 NATO member countries are expected to constitute more than 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) this year.

Lithuania will take the first place in the ratio of defense expenditures to GDP with 5.33 percent. Lithuania will be followed by Estonia with 5.1 percent, Latvia with 4.92 percent, Poland with 4.68 percent, Greece with 3.65 percent, Denmark with 3.49 percent and Sweden with 3.22 percent.

The ratio of Türkiye’s defense expenditures to GDP is expected to be 2.85 percent in 2026.

In the same period, the NATO average is expected to be 2.86 percent, with the USA spending 3.17 percent, Germany 2.69 percent, France 2.22 percent, the UK 2.56 percent and Italy 2.10 percent.

Among NATO members, the country that will allocate the lowest share of national income to defense is expected to be Slovenia with 1.61 percent, followed by Belgium and Spain with 2 percent.

It is predicted that in 2026, 17 NATO members will achieve the target of 1.5 percent of GDP for defense and security-related investments.

At the summit held in The Hague in 2025, NATO leaders agreed to allocate 3.5 percent of GDP for basic defense expenditures by 2035, and an additional 1.5 percent of GDP for defense and security-related investments such as civil preparedness and resilience, supporting innovation, protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening the defense industry.

The dinner at the Presidential Complex was held closed to the press. President Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan welcomed the heads of state and government and their spouses attending the summit on the steps of the Presidential Main Building.

The Erdoğan couple took photos separately with the guests. After the leaders arrived at the Complex, dinner started.

Flags and soldiers representing the 16 Turkish states in history and soldiers in janissary uniforms were also present at the welcome. During the arrival of the leaders, the Ministry of National Defense Mehter Union played anthems.

US President Donald Trump confirmed with the “OK” sign that he liked the anthem played by the Mehteran Union.

THE MENU PRESENTED TO NATO LEADERS HAS BEEN REVEALED

On the other hand, the menu presented to NATO leaders has also emerged. At the dinner, where distinguished tastes specific to different regions of Türkiye were served, the leaders were served the main course; Slow-cooked beef ribs were served with sea bass served with taras, Urla mastic artichokes and Tokat leaves.

HERE IS THE MENU OFFERED TO LEADERS AT BEŞTEPE:

BEGINNING

Stone Oven Pita

(With Trabzon Butter and Hizan Karakovan Honey)

Sauteed Vegetables with Olive Oil

(With Yanık Denizli Yogurt)

SEARCH HOT

Kayseri Ravioli

(With Yanık Denizli Yogurt and Smoked Ayaş Paste)

MAIN COURSE

Sea Bass Dredging

(With Urla Sakız Artichoke and Tokat Leaf or)

Slow Cooked Beef Ribs

(With Burnt Trabzon Butter, Roasted Eggplant and Morel Mushroom Firik Pilaf)

TRUMP: Türkiye BOUGHT THESE PLANES

The most critical topic in the statements of both leaders was the F-35 issue. This is the first time Trump has made such a clear statement on the issue. Trump answered the question about the F-35 sale to Türkiye. Trump said, “We need to make the F-35 decision. This is a decision we need to make. We have a very good relationship with Turkey. F-35s are great. It is an issue we can consider.”

Trump continued his words as follows: Let me add this, Türkiye bought these planes, they are the best planes. If you are purchasing an aircraft from the United States, if anything is done to the engines and their maintenance is also carried out; Of course, if you bought this plane from America, it is our responsibility to maintain it. I mean, is the engine running, will the engine be rehabilitated, will it be upgraded… Many people disagreed, but over time they began to understand that Türkiye was a great ally for us.

US President Trump, on the question about CAATSA sanctions, said, “I can say that we can lift the sanctions.” he said.

The eyes of the world are on the 36th NATO Leaders Summit held in Ankara… US President Trump, who came to Türkiye for the 36th NATO Summit, was welcomed by President Erdoğan at Ankara Esenboğa Airport. After the official ceremony, the critical summit in Beştepe started.

MEETINGS ARE ENDED

After bilateral meetings and meetings between delegations, President Erdoğan and US President Trump attended the dinner held in honor of the heads of state and government and their spouses at the Presidential Complex.

Historical NATO reception at the Social Complex

HISTORICAL RECEPTION IN THE COMPLEX

The dinner at the Presidential Complex was held closed to the press. President Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan welcomed the heads of state and government and their spouses attending the summit on the steps of the Presidential Main Building.

A marching welcome to Trump at the Social Complex

A BRAND WELCOME TO TRUMP

US President Donald Trump was also among the leaders who attended the dinner. Donald Trump confirmed with the “OK” sign that he liked the anthem played by the Mehteran Union.

HE TOOK PHOTOS WITH THE LEADERS SEPARATELY

The Erdoğan couple took photos separately with the guests. After the leaders arrived at the Complex, dinner started.

Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran, in his post on his social media account, said, “I condemn in the strongest terms the bomb attacks that took place in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Any terrorist act targeting the peace, security and stability of Syria is a threat to the common future of not only Syria but also our region. Violence and terrorism can have no legitimacy. Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey supports efforts towards the permanent stability and security of Syria and supports Syria.” “We will continue to stand in solidarity with its people.” he said.

I condemn in the strongest terms the bomb attacks that took place in Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Any terrorist act targeting the peace, security and stability of Syria is a threat not only to the common future of Syria, but also to the common future of our region. No violence or terrorism…

— Burhanettin Duran (@burhanduran) July 7, 2026