NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Türkiye’s capital on May 13 for high-level talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, just one day before the alliance’s informal foreign ministers’ meeting convenes in Antalya.

According to a statement released by NATO on Monday, Rutte will hold bilateral discussions with Erdoğan in Ankara, focusing on the alliance’s evolving security priorities and the upcoming ministerial agenda.

The meeting is expected to cover key topics such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, the possibility of a ceasefire agreement, and a proposed round of direct peace negotiations in Istanbul—a diplomatic initiative long supported by Türkiye.

Rutte and Erdoğan will also exchange views on strategic issues facing the alliance, including the future of European security, the NATO-EU strategic partnership, and the push to increase defense spending among allied nations in response to mounting global threats.

Their discussions will help shape the proceedings of the informal foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for May 14–15 in Antalya, and also contribute to preparations for the upcoming NATO leaders' summit in The Hague on June 24–25.

The visit reflects Türkiye’s pivotal role within NATO and comes at a time when the alliance is working to enhance unity and strategic coordination among its members amid growing geopolitical challenges. (ILKHA)