Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate has said.

The meeting was held after Rutte arrived in the Turkish capital on Monday for the NATO leaders’ summit and focused on the gathering’s agenda, as well as regional and global developments.

Erdogan said he hoped the summit hosted by Türkiye would bring positive results, adding that Ankara has completed all preparations.

He stressed that the meeting should address issues ranging from collective defence to strengthening defence industry cooperation among allies.

Erdogan also said he believed the Defence Industry Forum to be held as part of the summit would be closely followed.

Expanding defence production

NATO heads of state and government are meeting in Ankara on July 7-8 for the alliance's 2026 summit, hosted by Türkiye.

The two-day summit will focus on implementing the defence spending commitments agreed at the 2025 summit, sustaining military support for Ukraine, and expanding defence industrial production.

It is taking place amid renewed debate over transatlantic burden-sharing and continued uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to participate in summit events.