NATO Foreign Ministers Meet in Helsingborg Ahead of Ankara Summit
Helsingborg, May 22, 2026 – NATO foreign ministers gathered in Helsingborg, Sweden, for a crucial meeting ahead of the alliance’s summit, which will be hosted by Turkey for the first time in 22 years. The meeting, which brought together foreign ministers from 32 NATO member states, is a significant preparatory step for the Ankara Summit scheduled for July 7-8.
Turkey was represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the meeting, where preparations for the Ankara Summit were a primary agenda item.
Commitment to Defense Investments from The Hague
Following important decisions on defense investments made at last year’s The Hague Summit, NATO aims to focus on the implementation of these commitments at the Ankara Summit. Ministers in Helsingborg assessed the progress made and the steps still needed regarding the defense investment plan, strengthening combat capabilities, and increasing production in the defense industry.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of adhering to these commitments during a press briefing in Brussels, stating, “We need to follow a credible path to fulfill the commitments made in The Hague.”
Potential Invitations to the Ankara Summit
Another key discussion point for the NATO foreign ministers was the list of invitees to the Ankara Summit. Invitations to leaders of European Union institutions have been confirmed. The possibility of inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also on the table.
A further topic awaiting clarification is whether representatives of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), established at the 2004 Istanbul Summit, will be invited. Turkey advocates for the participation of ICI representatives in Ankara, viewing it as a logical continuation of the initiative. If invitations are extended to ICI countries-Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait-they are not expected to be at the leader level. Should member states give their approval, an ICI event might be organized as a separate meeting on the sidelines of the summit. Reports concerning the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump also raised questions.
Ukraine and U.S. Troop Repositioning
The Helsingborg meeting also addressed ongoing support for Ukraine and the approach to burden-sharing in light of the U.S. decision to withdraw some of its forces from Europe. Rutte underscored the necessity of a stronger NATO with a healthier and more sustainable division of labor to ensure the security everyone needs.
The Ankara Summit aims to solidify the alliance’s commitment to collective defense and address contemporary security challenges. The outcomes of the Helsingborg meeting will directly inform the agenda and discussions at the upcoming summit in Turkey.
Source: Hürriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacılık A.Ş
