In 1983, a Rolling Stone review of our NATO anthem said “the emotions are so raw that the song nearly goes out of control.”
Same goes for next week’s summit. Sing it! NATO se, NATO sa, NATO Aspava.
In this week’s recap:
The pre-summit view from Ankara
Turkey eyes EU ties, US jet deal
CHP purges deepen, splinter party chance grows
Domestic and diplomatic wraps
AKP doctor orders surprise home visits
Also from us this week:
Podcast: Dimitar Bechev on Turkey’s role in NATO and European security
Ankara’s finally getting the attention it deserves. Next week’s NATO summit will not only spotlight the Turkish capital’s role in regional defense but also its newfound beauty amid last-minute preparations that have fueled some excellent jokes.
In the run-up events, the host city’s goals are two-fold: Promote alliance cohesion and prevent protests like those seen during the 2004 NATO summit in Istanbul.
Street-level preparations: Protests have already begun in various forms throughout Turkey, where 26 to 61 percent of citizens support NATO depending on the survey. That said, mounted police officers are on patrol and 56,000 security personnel will be on duty in Ankara.
Strict security measures have banned gatherings, events and protests, with 103 people and civil society leaders arrested last week on anti-terror charges following dawn raids. Many local news organizations have also been denied press credentials to cover the summit.
In lighter top-down measures, airport taxi drivers have a new dress code and will distribute Turkish delights to visitors—fueling stereotypes for at least another decade or two. Plus, we finally got an official map of which roads will be closed for convoys.
In recent tours of the city, Turkey recap observed work crews painting new murals (often rushed floral patterns) and erecting billboard fences along convoy routes—apparently designed to block city scenes deemed undesirable.
While some billboards feature pro-NATO messages (pictured above), others promote Turkish defense products and cultural events, with Tayfun missile and Hürjet ads running alongside Gorillaz and DJ Tiësto concert promotions—not to be confused with Teknofest.
Palace-level expectations: Amplifying long-held policy objectives, the Turkish government has consistently sought to present the nation as a central NATO ally while showcasing its growing weapons manufacturing base to allied countries seeking to boost defense spending.
Speaking Monday, Pres. Erdoğan said the alliance is at a “historic turning point,” and that Turkey is among the nations that “best grasps the spirit of the new era.”
“Threats such as war, crisis, terrorism and irregular migration, particularly along the eastern and southeastern borders of our alliance, necessitate a reshaping of our understanding of security,” he said.
Erdoğan’s governing coalition partner Devlet Bahçeli echoed similar language Tuesday, stating Turkey “will play a leading role in reshaping the alliance’s future.”
Analysis: While much of the international summit coverage will likely anchor on US Pres. Donald Trump and his actions, the Turkish government will seek out an increasingly central role in European defense discussions to prepare for a more Euro-centric “NATO 3.0,” as recently described by US Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth.
“Looking ahead, there are different models on how the European security architecture could evolve. The most likely model is a stronger European pillar within NATO,” said Özgür Ünlühisarcıklı, the US German Marshall Fund’s managing director of south and wider Europe as well as regional director for Turkey.
“If that happens, Turkey would like to be part of that pillar, not outside of it,” Ünlühisarcıklı told Turkey recap.
Kallas when you’re ready: Turkey eyes EU ties, US jet deal
