Turkey has reinforced security and transportation measures in Ankara as foreign heads of state arrive for the NATO summit scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, July 6 and 7, 2026.
The capital's Esenboga Airport exempted official diplomatic flights from temporary air traffic restrictions, while alliance leaders emphasized defensive readiness against regional security challenges.
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Lithuania Highlights Turkey's Strategic Role
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated that Turkey is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographical position.
She added that Lithuania highly values Turkey's solidarity and contribution to the security of the Baltic region.
Ruginiene provided these remarks in written responses to Anadolu before the summit.
She identified Russia as the most direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security, noting that Baltic airspace has faced recent drone incursions from Russia and Belarus.
She expressed hope that the Ankara summit would drive concrete progress toward allocating 5% of gross domestic product to defense expenditures.
Ruginiene emphasized that continued military support for Ukraine remains essential to maintain its momentum on the battlefield.
Defense Spending and Transatlantic Bond
Ruginiene stressed that increasing defense budgets provides new economic and trade opportunities for member states.
She defended the transatlantic bond as the cornerstone of security, noting that while the role of the United States evolves, it cannot be replaced by any other actor.
She warned that viewing the alliance as a separate "European pillar" could be misleading, stressing individual compliance with defense spending targets.
