Erdogan seeks to boost Turkey's global standing at NATO meet

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Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plans to use the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara to boost Turkey's position within the alliance and project the country as a vital regional power, despite criticism for his home crackdown on political opponents.

The July 7-8 summit will bring together leaders from all 32 NATO member states, including US President Donald Trump, amid a time of rising tensions over defence spending, crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, and internal splits within the alliance. Ankara thinks that hosting the gathering will strengthen its role as a bridge between Europe and the United States, as well as an influential actor in regional security.

According to analysts, Erdogan intends to capitalise on Turkey's strategic importance in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and recent Middle Eastern unrest. He is also expected to encourage partners to eliminate Turkey's defence trade restrictions, assist its counterterrorism operations, and strengthen Ankara's participation in European security projects.

Turkey has increased security ahead of the summit, deploying tens of thousands of police officers, activating air defences, and prohibiting demonstrations and public gatherings. Rights groups and opposition politicians have criticised the measures, raising concerns about press freedoms and the government's handling of dissent in the run-up to the high-profile summit.