The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Ankara on 7–8 July 2026, was a symbol-laden meeting that will be remembered for the messages Turkey conveyed to the entire world, especially to its allies within the Alliance.

Attended by the heads of state and government of all 32 member countries and nearly 100 ministers, and with representatives of numerous non-member global partners also invited, the summit was described by the concept of “NATO 3.0,” signaling that the defense alliance has entered a new era. According to this conceptualization, which is used to define the structural, strategic, and ideological transformations the Alliance has undergone from its founding to the present day, the process is divided into three main periods:

NATO 1.0 (1949–1991): The Cold War era, during which communism was identified as the principal enemy.

NATO 2.0 (1991–2022): The period from the end of the Cold War until Russia invaded Ukraine, during which Islam was implicitly defined as an enemy under the banner of combating terrorism.

NATO 3.0 (2022–Present): The “New Cold War” era in which we now find ourselves, beginning with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and characterized by China’s rise as a global power being defined as a “systemic threat.”

Under the NATO 3.0 concept, the United States’ strategic priority is shifting toward the Indo-Pacific region, and as part of this rebalancing plan, Europe is expected to assume greater responsibility for the defense of the continent within NATO, while the United States takes on a complementary role. Moreover, the concept of threat is no longer viewed solely in military terms; cyber warfare, the military use of artificial intelligence, space security, the protection of critical infrastructure (such as energy pipelines), and hybrid warfare methods are also included within this framework.

What Made the Ankara Summit Different?

The “NATO 3.0” concept was essentially a framework that had already been discussed and adopted at NATO’s Madrid (2022) and Washington (2024) summits; technically, the Ankara Summit was a continuation of this process. Therefore, what made the Ankara NATO Summit remarkable was not so much the concept itself, but rather Turkey’s emergence as a military, political, and industrial power shaping NATO’s future security architecture, moving beyond its former role as merely an outpost protecting the Alliance’s southeastern flank.

Trump’s Visit and a Turning Point in U.S.–Turkey Relations

The statement by U.S. President Donald Trump—who was reportedly angered by the lack of support he had expected from NATO allies during the war with Iran—that he attended the summit in Ankara out of regard for President Erdoğan, whom he described as “my friend, a very strong leader, a very strong person,” and that he would not have attended had the summit been held in another country, resonated around the world.

While other heads of state were welcomed by cabinet members, President Erdoğan personally greeted Donald Trump at the airport. This reception signaled the evolving special relationship between the two countries possessing NATO’s largest armies. The measured approach displayed by the U.S. President in Ankara, despite his reputation for rude and demeaning behavior in meetings with European leaders, revealed the new trajectory of bilateral relations. It was still fresh in public memory that, at the G7 summit held in France just last month, Trump had kept the other leaders waiting by arriving late to the meeting and had entered saying, “Hello, I’m the boss.”

Before arriving in Turkey, Trump announced that he would bring major good news for Turkey, and before the summit (on 26 June), he had declared that he had formally notified Congress of a request to sell jet engines to Turkey for the national combat aircraft KAAN, valued at more than $700 million. During the summit, he also announced that the CAATSA sanctions imposed on Turkey would be lifted and that the delivery of F-35 aircraft would be considered. These statements, which could bring an end to Israel’s air superiority in the region and potentially alter the regional balance, marked historic turning points in U.S.–Turkey relations.

Throughout the summit, President Erdoğan’s balanced leadership and the respect he commanded among the leaders helped prevent potential clashes between European leaders and Trump, positioning Turkey as a crisis-mitigating and managing actor among the Allies.

Symbols and Infrastructure Power: The Presidential Complex and the Ay Yıldız Headquarters

From beginning to end, the summit took place in a setting where Turkey showcased its national identity and the capabilities it has achieved.

Historic Reception: The summit was marked by the reception of the heads of state at the Presidential Complex by the Mehter Band and the Janissary Ceremonial Unit, whose traditions date back to the 13th century. This........

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