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Setting the Stage for the Summit: High-Level NATO Expert Dialogue in Berlin
The upcoming NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on July 7–8, 2026, in Ankara is already drawing attention. Under the title “On the Road to the Ankara Summit 2026: Shaping the Future of Euro-Atlantic Security,” a roundtable discussion jointly organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the Communications Directorate of the Turkish Presidency, and the Turkish Embassy in Berlin brought together policymakers, diplomats, and security experts at the foundation’s premises.
The visit of Ambassador Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Chief Advisor to the Turkish President on foreign and security policy, underscored the importance of open expert dialogue ahead of the summit.
Dr. Mark Speich, Secretary General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue between the two countries and highlighted the positive trajectory of German-Turkish relations in recent years as a foundation for deeper security cooperation. Kılıç reaffirmed Turkey’s role as a strong and indispensable NATO ally.
Oğuz Üçüncü, AK Party MP and member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, stressed the need for strategic foresight. He noted that the Ankara Summit would be historic and that the Alliance must thoroughly prepare to defend all its flanks. The deepening of German-Turkish defense cooperation was also highlighted as an increasingly important issue.
The event clearly demonstrated that Berlin serves as a key venue for pre-summit discussions, while the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung stands out as an important platform for transatlantic dialogue in a time of geopolitical dynamism.
