NATO summit kicks off in Ankara with tightened security
International summits are always not just venues for leaders to meet but also litmus tests for the state of global affairs. When allies gather around one table, behind the scenes disputes simmer, and on the streets of the host city, a level of order prevails that is rarely seen on ordinary days.
Ankara is welcoming high level delegations, and the tightened security measures reflect not only care for top officials but also a demonstration of state power and organisation, capable of ensuring safety at the most tense moments.
On Tuesday, the 36th NATO summit began in the Turkish capital, running through Wednesday. This is the second time the summit is being held in the country. Ankara has opened a new airport to accommodate the large number of delegations. The municipal government also carried out extensive renovations along major thoroughfares. To ensure security, Turkey has deployed more than 56,000 personnel, focusing on strict control of key sites — the Presidential Complex, the NATO Congress venue and hotels for delegations.
Traffic management is in place on several main roads in central Ankara during the summit. In late June, the Ankara Governor's Office also issued an administrative order banning any gatherings or protests in central districts from the eve of the summit until its conclusion.
The enhanced measures have also affected city life. According to Turkish local media, traffic restrictions and changes to public transport routes have seriously impacted daily commutes, and some schools were forced to adjust their schedules. The summit takes place amid diverging approaches to the recent US military operation against Iran, ongoing debates over ambitious defence spending targets and growing NATO criticism in parts of Europe.
Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, several NATO allies expressed political support for Washington but none agreed to direct involvement. Reluctance to send naval vessels to support US efforts to "open" the Strait of Hormuz drew criticism from Donald Trump, who sharply accused European allies of benefiting from US security guarantees while avoiding military risks.
One of the main issues expected to dominate the summit is implementation of the agreement reached at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, where allies committed to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This goal is widely seen as a key part of the Trump administration's efforts to implement so called "NATO 3.0", aimed at shifting primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defence from Washington to European member states. Trump has long threatened to review US security guarantees for allies if they do not increase defence spending.
As CCTV+ reports. The Ankara summit has become a test of allied unity, where each participant defends its own interests while being forced to seek compromises.
