Erdogan and Poland set 15 billion trade target ahead of NATO summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Polish counterpart Karol Nawrocki on Tuesday announced a $15 billion trade target and pledged to deepen NATO cooperation during a high-profile meeting in Ankara ahead of next month’s alliance summit in the Turkish capital.

Speaking after an official welcome ceremony at the presidential complex, Erdogan told reporters that Türkiye and Poland, both long-standing NATO members, would use the summit to elevate bilateral ties across trade, defense, and energy. “Our goal is clear: to turn our strategic partnership into a concrete roadmap for the next decade,” Erdogan said, flanked by Nawrocki during a joint press conference. The two leaders also discussed preparations for the NATO summit, which will be held in Ankara in July 2026.

The visit included a tour of ASELSAN’s Ankara facilities, where Nawrocki received detailed briefings on electronic warfare, radar, air defense, and communications systems. In a statement released by the Polish presidency, Nawrocki called defense industry cooperation with Türkiye “indispensable,” highlighting a $410 million electronic warfare export contract signed in December 2025. “Poland and Türkiye share a commitment to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, and our defense collaboration is a cornerstone of that effort,” Nawrocki said.

The meetings follow months of intensified diplomatic engagement between the two countries. In December 2025, the $410 million contract for electronic warfare systems was finalized, marking one of the largest defense deals between NATO allies in recent years. Analysts say the timing of Nawrocki’s visit underscores Poland’s strategic pivot toward Türkiye as a key partner in Central and Eastern Europe amid rising regional tensions.

Erdogan also indicated that a private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is likely during the Ankara summit, according to reports citing Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun. The planned discussions come as NATO prepares to address critical issues including Ukraine’s defense needs, defense spending commitments, and the alliance’s long-term strategic posture.

Meanwhile, Czech President Petr Pavel has sought a preliminary injunction to secure his attendance at the summit, following legal challenges to his eligibility. The move reflects broader political tensions in Central Europe but is not expected to disrupt the high-level gathering.

With the NATO summit just weeks away, the Ankara meetings signal a broader push by both countries to position themselves as pivotal players in the alliance’s evolving security architecture.