EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in Ankara on Monday alongside Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner for high-level talks with Turkish officials, as the bloc seeks to strengthen ties with the candidate country ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in the Turkish capital.

The visit comes as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan doubles down on demands for Turkey’s full integration into European defence structures, warning that excluding Ankara would be counterproductive. Erdoğan told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a call on Monday that the Ankara summit must emphasise alliance unity and resilience, while stressing the need for results in the Russia-Ukraine war through dialogue.

Kallas framed Turkey as an “indispensable partner” on defence, migration and regional stability, but also criticised Israeli settlement expansion for undermining the two-state solution. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, she described Ankara as key to addressing multiple geopolitical flashpoints.

Turkish authorities have meanwhile intensified pre-summit security measures, arresting more than 200 people accused of planning protests that portray the country as a “terrorist state.” The presidential office is also reportedly vetting the list of accredited journalists, drawing criticism from Turkish commentators as a heavy-handed prelude to the gathering.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has already announced plans to unveil “tens of billions” in new defence deals during the Ankara summit, following a preparatory meeting in Berlin last week where leaders discussed spending and geopolitical threats.

Erdoğan has framed the event as the alliance’s “strongest platform for sharing experience,” urging the establishment of an unconditional security and defence network across NATO. His push for Turkey’s inclusion in European defence architecture gained further momentum on Monday as he repeated calls for the lifting of restrictions on the country’s defence industry.

The diplomatic flurry underscores the high stakes of the summit, where alliance cohesion and Turkey’s role will be central themes amid ongoing debates over European strategic autonomy and transatlantic burden-sharing.

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EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 29 June-3 July 2026 - EUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politics

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