Ankara has been transformed into a fortress ahead of the NATO Summit scheduled for July 7–8. Turkish authorities have implemented sweeping security measures to receive the leaders of the North Atlantic Alliance member states. Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service agents are on high alert ahead of Donald Trump‘s arrival in the Turkish capital.
Unprecedented security measures for Trump’s arrival in Ankara
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to land in the Turkish capital on Tuesday, July 7, accompanied by a delegation of approximately 1,000 people. The special vehicles he will use have already been transported to Ankara — including his helicopter, which arrived in the city disassembled.
According to CNN Türk, the hotel where Trump will be staying has been converted into a “fortress,” with American agents having conducted extensive checks of both the premises and the surrounding area.
The security measures around Trump’s hotel — “They won’t let even a bird fly”
According to the same source, Trump will be accommodated in the hotel’s presidential suite, spanning approximately 190 square meters. The suite features a separate bedroom, living room, private office, and workspace. CNN Türk reports that the windows are designed to be bulletproof and the walls are built to withstand potential explosions.
The 23-story hotel has been completely sealed off ahead of the U.S. president’s arrival, with members of the American delegation already beginning to check in.
Security measures around the hotel are exceptionally tight. The area is under surveillance by Secret Service agents, special forces, and police units, with roadblocks set up on surrounding streets.
According to CNN Türk, security forces “won’t let even a bird fly.” The hotel is located near the U.S. Embassy and a short distance from the Presidential Complex, where the key meetings will take place. After completing his schedule and holding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump is expected to spend the night there.
A historic NATO summit in Ankara
The Turkish capital is preparing to host leaders from all 32 Alliance member states for the 36th NATO Summit, taking place on Tuesday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 8. Officials have already begun arriving since Monday, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and delegations from Bulgaria, Australia, and North Macedonia, among others. This marks the first time since 2004 that such a summit has returned to Turkey — when George W. Bush was U.S. president and Erdogan was serving his first term as prime minister.
Erdogan’s schedule
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to hold a private meeting with Donald Trump on July 7, followed by a joint press conference upon its conclusion.
That same evening, the Turkish president and his wife Emine Erdogan will host a dinner in honor of the leaders and their spouses at the Presidential Complex. The following day will feature the official welcome of the leaders, a family photo, and the summit’s working sessions, beginning with opening remarks from Mark Rutte.
The agenda of the NATO Summit in Ankara
At the center of discussions will be the increase in defense spending, strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence capabilities, threats to the Euro-Atlantic region, the war in Ukraine, and developments on NATO’s southern flank.
Rutte will press member states to honor their commitment to increasing defense spending, despite the strain this places on some national budgets. Under pressure from Donald Trump, the 32-nation military alliance agreed at last year’s summit to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 — slightly more than double the overall level for European states and Canada in 2025.
Approximately 100 ministers, senior diplomats, and representatives of international organizations are also expected in Ankara.
