Turkish President Erdogan Engages in Intense Diplomacy at NATO Leaders’ Summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken part in a series of intense diplomatic engagements during his visit to Lithuania for the NATO leaders’ summit. Over the course of three days, Erdogan met with several world leaders to discuss a range of important issues.
The summit, which brought together 31 leaders of the military alliance, focused on topics such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Sweden’s bid for NATO membership, and measures to strengthen defense and deterrence within the group.
Erdogan’s first round of meetings took place at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre (LITEXPO) on Monday. He met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to discuss Sweden’s application to join NATO. It was announced that Turkey has agreed to send Sweden’s NATO accession protocol to parliament following a trilateral meeting with Sweden and NATO.
President Erdogan also met with European Council President Charles Michel on Monday, where they explored the possibilities of rejuvenating EU-Turkey cooperation and discussions with a focus on a strategic and forward-looking approach.
On the first day of the NATO summit, Erdogan held a meeting with US President Joe Biden to address bilateral relations, security cooperation, and regional issues. Erdogan expressed hope for positive outcomes from these discussions and highlighted the importance of cooperation in the security field.
In addition to President Biden, Erdogan also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
On the second day of the summit, Erdogan had discussions with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He later met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the meeting was reported to have taken place in a positive atmosphere. Both leaders expressed their desire for ongoing positive relations between Turkey and Greece, and they agreed to establish communication channels between the two countries.
President Erdogan also engaged in a closed-door meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and later met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Overall, President Erdogan’s diplomatic efforts during the NATO leaders’ summit demonstrated a commitment to engaging with various leaders and addressing crucial regional and international matters. The discussions held have the potential to shape future relations and cooperation between Turkey and other nations involved in the summit.
The NATO summit provided a platform for constructive dialogue and the opportunity to create strategies that strengthen defense, promote security, and build partnerships among member states. As President Erdogan returns to Turkey, the outcomes of these meetings will be closely followed for potential impacts on regional dynamics and global security.
