08.07.2026 15:21
On the second day of the 36th NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, the informal standing talks in the hall are also shaping the global agenda. A lengthy conversation in the main hall between President Erdoğan and US President Trump, later joined by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and MIT Director İbrahim Kalın, became one of the most talked-about moments of the summit. It was reported that during the mini four-way summit, details of Fidan's recent meeting with Putin were discussed.
At the historic summit held in Turkey, heads of state and government came together for the "North Atlantic Council Meeting" as part of the second-day program. Intensive diplomatic traffic took place at the Presidential Complex ahead of critical sessions where global security and intra-alliance issues were to be discussed.
CRITICAL PROTOCOL IN THE FAMILY PHOTO
During the official welcoming ceremony held at the Presidential Exhibition Hall, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte jointly welcomed the heads of state and government participating in the summit. Shaking hands with each leader and posing for photos, Erdoğan and Rutte then proceeded to the traditional "family photo" session.
In the historic photo frame bringing together leaders of alliance member countries, President Erdoğan had Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on his right and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on his left.
ENTERED THE HALL CHATTING WITH EDI RAMA
After the official family photo session was completed, the leaders moved to the main hall where the Heads of State and Government Meeting was to be held. President Erdoğan was seen chatting cordially with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama as they entered the hall.
STAND-UP DIPLOMACY BETWEEN ERDOĞAN, FİDAN, KALIN, AND TRUMP
As leaders took their seats in the main hall for the summit, a stand-up conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump drew attention.
According to images reflected on TRT Haber's live broadcast and expert evaluations during the broadcast, US President Trump greeted other leaders as he entered the hall but headed directly to the area where President Erdoğan was located. The conversation, which began when Trump came to Erdoğan's side before taking his seat, was joined by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and MIT Chief İbrahim Kalın.
TRUMP WENT DIRECTLY TO ERDOĞAN'S SIDE
TRT Haber commentators, reporting on the activity in the hall, emphasized that Trump came to Erdoğan's side multiple times to sustain the dialogue. Experts, noting that leaders can make vital decisions in such stand-up contacts as well as formal sessions, said, "Just as important as the summits, these stand-up talks are critical. Significant issues are brought up here. It could be the Iran issue, it could be the Ukraine issue."
It is stated that during the conversation, which took place in a quadrilateral summit format and lasted longer than expected, regional crises and ongoing wars were on the table. It is particularly emphasized that a concrete development regarding Ukraine is expected from the summit.
"I BELIEVE A PACKAGE CAME FROM MOSCOW"
TRT Haber commentators, pointing out that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent visit to Russia was one of the most important topics of this mini-summit, stated, "Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was in Moscow; very serious meetings were held with Putin. I believe a package came from there."
Experts, reminding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also invited to the NATO Summit, said, "This issue could be resolved in some way, because there is the Istanbul agreement."
After the long conversation between US President Trump, President Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Fidan, and MIT Chief Kalın, Trump took his place at the summit alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Following the leaders taking their seats, the official sessions of the summit began.
After this contact, carried out in a cheerful and cordial atmosphere by leaders and senior officials, the heads of state and government of NATO member countries started the major summit meeting to be held behind closed doors.