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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 13, 2025. The visit marks an important step to bolster Turkiye’s position within the alliance ahead of next month’s annual summit.

Rutte called Turkey a “staunch and capable ally” during his official visit to Ankara following his high-level meeting with the Turkish President at the Presidential Complex on Tuesday.

The two leaders held comprehensive talks on alliance unity, the Russia-Ukraine war, regional security threats, and Turkey’s evolving strategic responsibilities within NATO.

Turkey’s renewed role in NATO

Highlighting Turkey’s military and operational contributions, President Erdoğgan announced that his country will once again take command of the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR), a peacekeeping mission critical to Balkan stability.

Turkey previously held leadership roles in KFOR in 2002, 2005, and more recently in 2021, and the renewed commitment reflects Ankara’s dedication to regional peace operations. “Turkey will continue to do its utmost to ensure NATO remains strong despite internal and external challenges,” Erdogan stated.

This development comes at a time when the alliance seeks to demonstrate unity and resolve in the face of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and ongoing instability in the Middle East.

Diplomatic drive for peace in Ukraine

One of the focal points of the Erdogan-Rutte meeting was the ongoing war in Ukraine. “We also discussed Ukraine, where there is a real window of opportunity for progress towards peace,” said Rutte in a statement on X.

The NATO chief’s remarks mirror a cautiously optimistic shift in diplomatic circles, as both Kyiv and Moscow hint at exploratory talks amid war fatigue and economic pressure.

President Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s unique role as a mediator, noting his recent communications with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution: “Turkey maintains its stance of not being a party to this war,” he said, urging all sides to seize the emerging opportunity for a comprehensive ceasefire.

Ankara has previously hosted negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, including the notable March 2022 Istanbul talks, which laid the groundwork for later agreements such as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Although that initiative collapsed in mid-2023 after Russia’s withdrawal, Turkey has since renewed its diplomatic push, supported by neutral credibility and strong regional ties.

Recently, Turkey has once again become the center of negotiations for the warring states as President Putin expressed interest in holding direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. A high-level meeting involving Putin, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, and U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly being considered for Thursday in Istanbul, however, no confirmation has been made from any side.

Turkey’s balancing act

The Ankara talks come at a pivotal moment for NATO, as the alliance confronts a complex array of challenges ranging from strategic competition with China to cyber warfare and terrorism. Within this broader context, Turkey’s dual role as a loyal NATO member and an assertive regional power pursuing an independent foreign policy has drawn both praise and scrutiny from allies.

Turkey has at times diverged from the NATO consensus, particularly over issues like its procurement of the Russian S-400 missile system and its cautious stance on Western sanctions against Russia. However, recent events point to a recalibration. Ankara’s support for Sweden’s accession to NATO, ratified after months of delay, signaled Turkey’s intent to align more closely with the alliance’s core objectives.

In Tuesday’s meeting, Erdogan reaffirmed this trajectory. He called on NATO to stand united against terrorism and highlighted the importance of alliance solidarity in counterterrorism efforts, especially regarding threats emanating from northern Syria and Iraq. Ankara has long argued that its security concerns in those regions require greater recognition from NATO partners.

Broader implications ahead of the NATO Summit

The Erdogan-Rutte meeting also set the tone for the upcoming informal NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Antalya on May 14–15, which will serve as a precursor to the full NATO Summit next month.

With Turkey poised to play a prominent role in both gatherings, expectations are high for Ankara to articulate a vision for enhanced alliance cohesion, particularly around non-military challenges such as humanitarian crises, migration, and hybrid threats.

Excellent to meet with President @RTErdogan in Ankara today as we prepare the #NATOSummit next month to keep the Alliance strong. Türkiye 🇹🇷 is a staunch and capable Ally. We also discussed Ukraine, where there is a real window of opportunity for progress towards peace. pic.twitter.com/lopF9rpEgA

— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) May 13, 2025

“It is excellent to meet Erdogan as we prepare for the NATO Summit next month to keep the Alliance strong,” Rutte said. His visit underscores NATO’s recognition of Turkey’s strategic importance, both geographically, straddling Europe and the Middle East, and politically, as a bridge between Western institutions and emerging powers.

Rutte’s endorsement of Turkey as a “staunch and capable ally” reflects a renewed appreciation for Ankara’s role within NATO. With fresh responsibilities in Kosovo, active mediation in Ukraine, and a prominent voice in upcoming alliance summits, Turkey appears intent on redefining its position, not just as a regional power, but as a pillar of NATO’s 21st-century architecture.