08.07.2026 22:00
The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Ankara received extensive coverage in the international press, with reports highlighting Turkey's growing strategic importance in the changing security environment, its defense industry capacity, and President Erdogan's diplomatic role at the summit. Politico wrote that the sole winner of the summit was President Erdogan.
The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Ankara gained extensive coverage in the international press, with reports highlighting Turkey's increasing strategic importance in the changing security environment, its defense industry capacity, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's diplomatic role at the summit.
"TRUMP ATTENDED THE SUMMIT FOR ERDOĞAN"
The New York Times (NYT) wrote that the wars in Ukraine and Iran, along with US President Donald Trump's return to the White House, have increased Turkey's value among its NATO allies.
The newspaper stated that at the Ankara summit, Turkey is considered critical for the alliance's future with its developing defense industry and the second-largest army in NATO after the US, and reported that Trump said he agreed to attend the summit because Erdoğan was hosting it.
"ERDOĞAN IS THE SOLE WINNER OF THE SUMMIT"
A Politico article noted that there was "one clear winner" at the end of the NATO Summit and emphasized that President Erdoğan "managed to stand out as an effective negotiator and leader in the field of domestic defense industry."
The article stated that leaders praised Erdoğan's ability to involve Trump in discussions about NATO's future, while Trump was quoted as saying that relations with Turkey are "probably better than ever."
"TURKEY SHOWCASED ITS DEFENSE INDUSTRY TO EUROPEAN ALLIES"
Defence24, known for defense news, emphasized that Europe cannot exclude Turkey while building a serious security architecture.
Defence24's report noted that Turkey has NATO's second-largest army and a growing defense industry, and described the Ankara Summit as a strategic showcase for Turkey to display its defense industry and production capacity to European allies.
"ERDOĞAN IS ONE OF THE FEW LEADERS WITH WHOM TRUMP HAS MAINTAINED GOOD RELATIONS FOR YEARS"
The German newspaper Welt used the headline "Is Turkey a new power factor?" for the NATO Summit in Ankara, reporting that Trump said he attended the summit because of Erdoğan.
The newspaper noted that Erdoğan is one of the few leaders with whom Trump has maintained good personal relations for many years.
Süddeutsche Zeitung evaluated the Ankara Summit as a critical meeting for NATO, writing that European countries aimed to send a message of a strengthened alliance by showcasing their new defense investments.
Tagesschau stated that Erdoğan gained prestige even before the summit began, noting that Trump wanted to come to Ankara and that Turkey stands out as an indispensable regional power with NATO's second-largest army.
Wirtschaftswoche reported that Erdoğan organized a magnificent welcome for Trump, describing the reception as taking place in a sincere atmosphere, and wrote that Trump said he attended the NATO Summit in Turkey only for Erdoğan.
GREEK PRESS HIGHLIGHTED TRUMP'S F-35 STATEMENTS
In the Greek press, US President Donald Trump's statements giving the green light for the sale of F-35s to Turkey and the lifting of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against Turkey stood out.
One of Greece's most read news sites, in.gr, in an article titled "Erdoğan won the 'battle' in his meeting with Trump, now he is trying to win the 'war'," wrote that no one can ignore Turkey's significantly increased strategic importance.
The article noted that Trump's reception by President Erdoğan in Ankara was impressive, and that Trump's praise of Erdoğan was also striking. The newspaper claimed that Turkey won the first impression battle, but the war to get a clear date on when it will obtain the F-35s continues.
Kathimerini, in an article titled "Praise and promises for the F-35," covered Trump's statements regarding the F-35 and CAATSA sanctions, reporting that Trump praised Turkey and President Erdoğan, describing Turkey as a more loyal friend compared to other countries.
SKAI TV, in an article titled "Erdoğan becomes the biggest winner of the NATO Summit," commented that Erdoğan used the NATO Summit to strengthen his international standing and bring the F-35 issue back to the agenda.
The article included the statement: "The NATO Summit appears to be concluding with an unexpected political winner. This winner is not the entire NATO alliance, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
"TRUMP CRITICIZED EUROPEANS, PRAISED ERDOĞAN"
The Italian press noted that Trump criticized Europeans while praising Erdoğan.
The Italian press also highlighted the statements made by US President Trump during his meeting with President Erdoğan at the NATO Summit in Ankara. La Repubblica reported that Trump said he was "disappointed" with European allies and used the phrase "I came here for Erdoğan."
Corriere della Sera ran the headline "Trump shakes up the NATO Summit with his words," reporting on its front page that Trump met with his "friend Erdoğan" while criticizing Berlin, Paris, and London. In another article about the summit, the newspaper noted that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was welcomed with "Mehter March" and commented, "It is hard for such a choice to be a coincidence."
La Stampa wrote that Trump, while criticizing his European allies, referred to President Erdoğan as an "important friend" and an "important leader" in public events. The newspaper quoted Trump's words to Erdoğan, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have come to the NATO Summit," and noted that he promised the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
Il Messaggero also reported that Trump promised the sale of F-35s to Turkey at the beginning of the summit.
"TURKEY HAS A RAPIDLY GROWING ARMS INDUSTRY"
Switzerland's public broadcaster SRF covered the Ankara summit under the headline "NATO's fateful meeting: Restructuring or disintegration?"
The article included the comment that President Erdoğan "used the summit to show his power," stating, "Turkey has a rapidly growing arms industry, NATO's second-largest army, and controls the transit routes from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea."
"statements were used. The news also noted that Turkey is one of the few countries capable of mediating between Russia and Ukraine.
"CRITICISM, THREAT, AND A TREAT FOR ANKARA"
Austrian public broadcaster ORF announced the NATO Summit in Ankara under the title "Criticism, threat, and a treat for Ankara."
The news included US President Trump's criticisms of European leaders, while stating that one of the summit's key developments for Turkey was the message that Washington would reassess the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.
Trump's statements suggesting that sanctions against Turkey could be lifted were described as "a treat" from Ankara's perspective.
The news noted that President Erdoğan personally welcomed Trump and that a "magnificent" ceremony featuring a cavalry unit and warplanes was held, emphasizing that Trump described Turkey as a country "distinguished from other allies by its loyalty."
"TURKEY'S IMPORTANCE FOR EUROPEAN SECURITY IS GROWING"
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce's (WKO) digital publication platform LOOKAUT, in its analysis titled "NATO Summit in Ankara: Why Has Turkey Suddenly Become So Important?", wrote that Turkey has NATO's second-largest army after the US, and its strategic location and growing defense industry are increasing its importance for European security.
Austrian newspaper Kurier reported the summit under the title "Erdoğan shows at the NATO Summit how much Europe needs him."
The news stated that Erdoğan appeared as a "confident host" while European leaders seemed like "timid guests," adding, "Recent developments in the Middle East have once again revealed the geopolitical importance of Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army."
"Klix," one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most-read news portals, informed its readers that Turkey hosted the summit after 22 years and that the meetings went positively, highlighting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's speech on the "Steel Dome" and other air defense systems.
"Index," the most-followed news portal in Croatia, featured President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks that defense restrictions among NATO allies should be lifted.
Slovenia's public broadcaster, Slovenian Radio and Television (RTV SLO), viewed the summit in Ankara as an opportunity for Turkey to showcase its strengthening defense industry.