NATO has released a promotional video ahead of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, highlighting Türkiye’s strategic location, defence industry and the Turkish capital’s historical and cultural heritage.
Shared on the alliance’s social media accounts on Monday, the video says: “Welcome to Ankara. With 32 NATO leaders set to gather in Türkiye’s capital this week, get to know the host of the 2026 NATO Summit.”
The video underscores Türkiye’s strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, highlighting its control of the Turkish Straits linking the Black Sea and the Mediterranean as a key asset for global security, trade and connectivity.
‘Home to Türkiye's largest defence industry companies’
The video also presents Ankara’s historical legacy, noting that the city has been home to numerous ancient Anatolian civilisations and is now home to leading universities and prominent museums.
It features Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and says that Ataturk chose Ankara as the capital of the Republic of Türkiye because of its central and strategic location.
Highlighting Ankara’s famous simit, the video says the capital is “much more than iconic street food and remarkable history”, describing it as "home to Türkiye's largest defence industry companies and serves as a major hub for military engineering and advanced technology."
The alliance also notes that Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952, has played an active role within the alliance and fields NATO’s second-largest military.
Aim to expand defence industrial production
Footage in the video includes Ankara Castle, Anitkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Presidential Complex, the Bosphorus and Türkiye’s defence industry.
The video comes as NATO heads of state and government prepare to meet in Ankara on July 7-8 for the alliance’s 2026 summit, hosted by Türkiye.
The two-day gathering will focus on implementing the defence spending commitments agreed at the 2025 summit, sustaining military support for Ukraine and expanding defence industrial production.
It will take place amid renewed debate over transatlantic burden-sharing and continued uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine war.
