Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump share a “strong political will” to remove U.S. sanctions imposed on Türkiye under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), adding that both governments are taking concrete steps to resolve one of the most persistent disputes in bilateral ties.

Speaking in an interview with CNN Türk, Fidan said Erdoğan and Trump had instructed their governments to work toward lifting the sanctions following a meeting in Washington last September.

“Both our president and President Trump have a strong will to remove the CAATSA sanctions,” Fidan said. “Our defense minister and I have been working intensively on this issue. Overall, relations are moving in a positive direction.”

The sanctions were imposed after Türkiye acquired Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, leading Washington to remove Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 and later sanction Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under CAATSA.

Fidan said the sanctions remain the only major institutional obstacle in U.S.-Türkiye relations, arguing that many other restrictions imposed on Ankara over the past several years had already been lifted.

“There are specific decisions that can sometimes be taken against Türkiye, but the only permanent negative issue that remains today is the CAATSA sanctions,” he said.

While declining to predict when the measures could be lifted, Fidan said administrative work was progressing and that the process would become visible as implementation advanced. He noted that executive action and congressional procedures do not always move at the same pace.

“There is no problem regarding political will within the administrations,” Fidan noted. “The question is how the process in the U.S. Congress will proceed.”

His remarks come days before leaders are expected to gather in Ankara for a NATO summit, where Erdoğan and Trump are scheduled to hold bilateral talks alongside broader alliance discussions.

Fidan said Trump’s participation in the summit had been confirmed, describing it as significant both for NATO and for Türkiye.

“This alone is important and positive news for the alliance,” he stressed, adding that Trump’s decision reflected the relationship between the two leaders.

He said Erdoğan would also hold meetings with leaders from Britain, Germany, France, Italy and other allied countries during the summit, with many governments seeking to advance bilateral issues while in Ankara.

On defense cooperation, Fidan said lifting restrictions on F-35 sales and restoring Türkiye’s role as a production partner should be viewed as separate issues.

“The removal of the sales ban is an easier matter,” he said. “I believe that can happen after CAATSA.”

Returning Türkiye to the multinational F-35 production consortium, however, would require a new decision by partner countries because Ankara was formally removed from the program through a collective decision, he added.

He declined to comment on whether Trump’s recent reference to a possible “surprise” in bilateral relations concerned Türkiye’s reported interest in acquiring U.S.-made jet engines for its domestically developed KAAN fighter aircraft.

Beyond defense ties, Fidan said the two NATO allies share strategic objectives on several regional issues, including ending the war in Ukraine, stabilizing Syria and Iraq, and promoting regional security.

Peace efforts in region

Fidan also said Türkiye had worked closely with the United States on efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and maintained dialogue on broader regional stability.

Turning to the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Fidan described Türkiye as one of the key diplomatic actors seeking to prevent a wider regional war.

He said Türkiye, Qatar and Pakistan coordinated mediation efforts during the crisis and helped facilitate contacts aimed at securing a cease-fire.

“We were racing against time to stop the war,” Fidan said, adding that trusted intermediaries were essential during periods of escalating tensions.

He argued that international pressure over the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz played an important role in preventing further escalation because of concerns over global energy supplies, food security and economic stability.

Commenting on Israel’s regional policies, Fidan sharply criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing it of fueling instability across the Middle East.

He said growing international criticism of Israel reflected changing global attitudes and argued that governments had become increasingly willing to impose restrictions, including limits on arms exports and sanctions targeting Israeli officials.

Fidan also pointed to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders as evidence of increasing international pressure.

Türkiye suspended approximately $10 billion in bilateral trade with Israel earlier this year, a move Fidan said was intended primarily as a political message rather than an attempt to inflict direct economic damage.

He maintained that Israel had become “a problem for the entire international community,” arguing that lasting regional stability would require broader international action rather than efforts by Türkiye alone.

Minister’s Russia visit

The Turkish minister also underlined that his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin should be viewed as part of President Erdoğan’s direct dialogue with Moscow, as Ankara seeks to maintain communication on Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and other regional issues.

Fidan said the latest meeting focused on Russia’s position on the war in Ukraine and Putin’s current view of the diplomatic process.

“When I went there in May, we discussed this at length,” Fidan said. “There was a vision he put forward. We later spoke extensively with his negotiators. Now it was necessary to hear from Mr. Putin himself where we stand.”

Fidan noted that understanding the intentions of all sides is critical, warning that when governments lack direct communication, they are forced to plan according to worst-case scenarios.

He added that Russia’s positions also matter for Türkiye’s interests in the Caucasus peace process, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

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Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy (MIA) has published a report describing the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara as a critical turning point for the alliance, arguing that NATO must adapt to an increasingly complex security environment shaped by great-power competition, hybrid threats and emerging technologies.

The report, titled “The Ankara Summit, NATO 3.0 Debates and Türkiye,” examines NATO’s evolving security architecture, the concept of “NATO 3.0” and Türkiye’s strategic role within the alliance ahead of the leaders’ summit.

The National Intelligence Academy, a graduate-level institution established under the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in 2023, focuses on intelligence, national security research and postgraduate education.

According to the report released on Friday, the international security landscape has moved beyond the relatively predictable post-Cold War order toward a multipolar environment marked by heightened uncertainty and hybrid competition. It cites intensifying rivalry among major powers, China’s technological and economic rise, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Iran conflict as developments that have fundamentally reshaped global security.

The report argues that security can no longer be defined solely in military terms, saying cyberattacks, disinformation, energy coercion and attacks on critical infrastructure have become strategic instruments of competition. It also emphasizes that societal resilience and what it describes as “cognitive security” have become integral components of national and collective defense.

Using the analytical framework of “NATO 3.0,” the report traces the alliance’s evolution from its Cold War focus on collective defense through the post-Cold War era of crisis management and out-of-area operations to a new phase centered on integrated deterrence and resilience. It notes that the term “NATO 3.0” is not an official NATO classification but an analytical concept reflecting the alliance’s changing strategic priorities.

The report says modern security now extends beyond land, sea and air to include cyberspace, outer space, the electromagnetic spectrum and the cognitive domain. It argues that collective deterrence increasingly depends on an integrated approach spanning defense industries, cyber capabilities, air and missile defense, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure and societal resilience.

It also says NATO’s longstanding debate over burden-sharing has evolved beyond defense spending, focusing instead on which allies develop specific capabilities and assume greater responsibility during crises. As the U.S. shifts more of its strategic attention toward the Indo-Pacific, the report argues that Europe will inevitably shoulder greater responsibility for regional security.

The report describes strategic autonomy as a central element of the NATO 3.0 debate, arguing that stronger national capabilities in defense, technology, energy and critical infrastructure can reinforce the alliance if they remain interoperable with NATO planning.

The academy portrays Türkiye as a leading example of the type of ally NATO will increasingly require. It says the country has expanded its domestic defense capabilities, developed expertise in critical technologies and strengthened its ability to counter hybrid threats, allowing it to contribute greater strategic value to the alliance.

According to the report, Türkiye’s unique contribution lies in its ability to address security challenges on both NATO’s eastern and southern flanks simultaneously. It points to Ankara’s role in Black Sea security and the Montreux Convention alongside its engagement in security issues involving Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.

The report also highlights Türkiye’s defense industry, citing advances in unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, radar technologies, land and naval platforms, command-and-control systems and artificial intelligence-supported decision-making. It says these capabilities strengthen both Türkiye’s national security and NATO’s overall deterrence.

It adds that intelligence-sharing has become an increasingly important element of alliance cooperation, arguing that the MIT’s expanding operational capabilities have enhanced Türkiye’s contribution to NATO intelligence.

Looking ahead to the Ankara summit, the report says the meeting will serve not only as a forum to address current security crises but also as a defining moment for NATO’s institutional and strategic future.

It identifies defense spending, industrial production capacity, U.S.-European burden-sharing, the security priorities of NATO’s eastern and southern flanks, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space security and next-generation technologies as the alliance’s principal agenda items.

The report notes that NATO leaders agreed at last month’s Hague summit to raise the alliance’s defense spending benchmark to 5% of gross domestic product, but argues that the more important question is how effectively those resources are translated into military capabilities.

It also says resilience has become as important as deterrence, arguing that energy infrastructure, communications networks, financial systems, public opinion and societal psychology are now essential components of security. The report calls for NATO to adopt a “comprehensive resilience” approach as a core strategic principle.

For Türkiye, the report says hosting the summit represents more than a diplomatic event. It argues that Ankara is well positioned to help shape NATO’s evolving strategic framework by promoting a 360-degree approach to security, strengthening defense industrial cooperation, enhancing allied coordination against terrorism and contributing its experience in countering disinformation, cyber threats, irregular migration and attacks on critical infrastructure.

The report concludes that NATO’s long-term effectiveness will depend on its ability to convert higher defense spending into tangible military capabilities, redefine trans-Atlantic burden-sharing without weakening deterrence, balance the security priorities of its eastern and southern flanks, and place resilience at the center of collective defense.

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Türkiye will mark the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt with nationwide and international commemorative events under the theme “The Will Is Ours, Victory Is Ours,” Communications Director Burhanettin Duran announced Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting with Ankara bureau chiefs of media organizations, Duran outlined the government’s plans for the annual Democracy and National Unity Day commemorations, which will include thousands of events across all 81 provinces and at Turkish diplomatic missions abroad.

Duran said the anniversary would commemorate what Turkish authorities describe as the defeat of the coup attempt through the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the resistance of civilians, the military and security forces.

“We see July 15 as the resistance, heroism and victory of our nation,” Duran said.

He said the slogan “The Will Is Ours, Victory Is Ours” was chosen to emphasize the public’s determination to defend its democratic will and national independence, describing the anniversary as a symbol of Türkiye’s commitment to shaping its own future.

According to Duran, the commemorations will focus on preserving public memory, strengthening social resilience and conveying Türkiye’s account of the events to domestic and international audiences.

The Directorate of Communications has prepared what Duran described as a comprehensive communication strategy that combines digital platforms, traditional media and academic initiatives to mark the anniversary.

As part of the program, “July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day Memorial Tents” will be established in all 81 provinces. The installations, to be located in city squares, public parks and other busy areas, will feature documentary videos, digital displays, brochures, projection systems, QR code applications and interactive information panels.

Visitors, particularly children and young people, will be invited to write messages in memorial books as part of the commemorative activities.

Duran said additional events across the country would include public vigils, ceremonial flag relay runs, concerts, theatrical performances, sporting events and tree-planting campaigns.

The main ceremonies will take place in Ankara and Istanbul.

In the capital, a large public gathering is scheduled at Başkent Nation’s Garden, while Türkiye’s Parliament will host a memorial ceremony accompanied by a digital exhibition and projection mapping display.

In Istanbul, a Quran recitation involving 253 memorizers of the Quran will be held at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in honor of the 253 people killed during the coup attempt.

The city will also host a maritime procession involving 253 boats, a convoy of 400 taxis and synchronized drone and light shows.

Duran said projection mapping displays would illuminate landmark buildings in several cities, while Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul would feature special three-dimensional visual presentations.

A public art installation titled “Silent Witness” will also be unveiled in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, where 253 Turkish flags will symbolize each person killed during the events of July 15.

The directorate has also prepared two books to coincide with the anniversary, while a short film titled “That Night” will combine footage from the attempted coup with images highlighting Türkiye’s achievements over the past decade.

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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday described Türkiye as one of the alliance’s strongest military powers ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Ankara, saying the country will play a key role in strengthening the alliance’s defense industrial base and implementing commitments made at the alliance’s previous summit.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) at NATO headquarters in Brussels before the July 7-8 Ankara summit, Rutte said Türkiye remains a vital ally with one of NATO’s most capable armed forces and a rapidly expanding defense industry.

“Türkiye is extremely important to NATO,” Rutte said. “It has one of the strongest armies in the alliance. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are very well-equipped and well-trained, and Türkiye has the advantage of a massive defense industry.”

NATO staged its biggest exercise this year in Germany, with some 10,000 personnel from 11 countries. Türkiye, which has the defense body’s second-largest army, dispatched 2,000 personnel for the Steadfast Dart 2026 in February. The exercise aimed to showcase NATO’s ability to deploy rapidly and conduct complex operations, the body said in a statement.

It was the first time that Türkiye sent so many troops to Northern Europe, though the country is a major component of NATO at a time of heightened defense worries in Europe.

Türkiye also hosts critical NATO facilities, including the Allied Land Command, which is located in the western city of Izmir, and the Rapid Deployable Corps, which is based in Istanbul. The capital, Ankara, hosts the Center of Excellence for Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) and the Partnership for Peace Training Center. Istanbul hosts the NATO Maritime Security Center of Excellence (MARSEC COE).

Moreover, Rutte said he hopes the Ankara summit will be remembered as the meeting where allies began implementing the pledges they made at the alliance’s summit in The Hague.

“We made the commitments in The Hague. The Ankara summit should be the implementation summit,” he said.

According to Rutte, defense spending will be one of the three main priorities of the gathering, alongside continued support for Ukraine and advancing what he described as “NATO 3.0,” a vision for a stronger alliance with greater European responsibility for collective defense.

“We need to recruit the men and women who will serve in our armed forces, and we must significantly expand defense industrial production,” Rutte said. “We have to increase this capacity very quickly.”

Explaining his vision of “NATO 3.0,” Rutte said the concept represents a new balance of responsibilities within the alliance, with European allies assuming a greater share of defense spending and operational leadership while the United States maintains its critical military and nuclear role.

“NATO 3.0 means moving beyond a NATO that relied too heavily on the United States,” he said. “The U.S. will remain indispensable through its conventional military capabilities and nuclear deterrence, but Europe will take on greater responsibility.”

He said European allies are expected to assume command of NATO’s three Joint Force Commands in the near future, while Europe and Canada will also finance a greater share of military assistance to Ukraine, even as Washington continues supplying key military equipment.

According to Rutte, a more balanced distribution of responsibilities will strengthen NATO’s deterrence against potential adversaries.

Addressing security challenges facing the alliance, Rutte identified Russia as NATO’s primary long-term threat, citing Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, the main long-term threat we face is Russia,” he said. “We see this clearly in Russia’s irrational war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Rutte argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated a willingness to sustain heavy military losses, saying Russia is accepting roughly 35,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded each month.

“That shows Ukraine is fighting effectively on the battlefield,” he said, while noting the human cost of the conflict for soldiers and their families.

He also warned against underestimating China’s military modernization, noting projections that Beijing could possess around 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

“We should not be naive about China,” Rutte said, adding that Russia is increasingly cooperating with China, Iran and North Korea.

While describing that partnership as a growing strategic concern, Rutte maintained that Russia remains NATO’s principal long-term security challenge.

The Ankara summit is expected to focus on implementing alliance defense commitments, expanding defense production, sustaining military support for Ukraine and advancing NATO’s long-term adaptation to evolving global security threats.

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Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has removed provincial officials in 26 provinces as part of an internal restructuring process, while reaffirming its support for the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, party spokesperson Müslim Sarı said Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Board (MYK) chaired by CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Sarı said the leadership had reviewed the party’s internal functioning since May 21 and taken disciplinary measures to protect its institutional structure.

“Our institutional identity is our red line,” Sarı said, adding that disciplinary procedures and dismissals had been implemented against officials deemed to have undermined the party’s organizational framework.

The decisions affected provincial organizations in 26 provinces, including Ağrı, Aksaray, Amasya, Batman, Bilecik, Bolu, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Hakkari, Iğdır, Kars, Kırıkkale, Manisa, Mardin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Samsun, Sivas and Tunceli, as well as several district branches. In Sinop, only the provincial chair was removed while the rest of the executive board remained in office.

Sarı said disciplinary proceedings seeking expulsion had been initiated against seven provincial chairs, including the heads of the party organizations in Denizli, Muğla, Eskişehir, Sinop, Düzce, Kars and Tunceli.

He also announced that new provincial chairs had been appointed in six provinces, Batman, Çanakkale, Mardin, Niğde, Osmaniye and Tunceli.

“In summary, officials have been removed in 26 provinces. Seven provincial chairs have been referred to the disciplinary board, and new appointments have been made in six provinces,” Sarı said.

Separately, Sarı reiterated the CHP’s support for the parliamentary commission report related to the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, saying the party backed efforts aimed at strengthening national unity and security.

“As the Republican People’s Party, we stand behind the commission’s report,” he stressed. “We support this process for the unity of the country, the security of the state, and national solidarity and brotherhood.”

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National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın met with Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad in Ankara on Monday to discuss the Gaza cease-fire, bilateral ties and a range of regional security issues, Turkish security sources said.

The two intelligence chiefs reviewed the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire agreement and agreed to continue strengthening coordination and cooperation to help prevent Israel’s escalating violations of the truce, the sources said.

Kalın reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Palestinians with all available means, as it has done throughout the conflict.

The meeting also covered Türkiye-Egypt bilateral relations and regional developments, including efforts to unify political authorities and military forces in eastern and western Libya under a single administration.

The officials further exchanged views on the latest developments in Somalia and discussed the ongoing conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The meeting comes as Ankara and Cairo continue to deepen cooperation on regional security following the normalization of diplomatic relations, with Gaza remaining a key focus of coordination between the two countries.

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