NATO Foreign Ministers to Convene in Türkiye for Informal Talks in Antalya

NATO has officially announced that an informal meeting of foreign ministers from the alliance’s member states will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, on May 14–15, 2025. The talks, which are set to take place in the coastal resort town of Belek, will be chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

A Strategic Location for a Strategic Alliance

Although Turkish officials have yet to comment, the selection of Türkiye as host for the high-level diplomatic gathering highlights Ankara’s enduring importance within the alliance. The country marked its 73rd year in NATO this past February, having joined in 1952—just three years after NATO’s founding.

Türkiye’s Role in NATO:

• Hosts major NATO military installations, including:

  • Allied Land Command (İzmir)

  • NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (Istanbul)

  • Center of Excellence for Defense Against Terrorism (Ankara)

  • Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (Istanbul)

• One of 24 NATO members meeting the 2% GDP defense spending benchmark in 2024

• Holds a strategic geopolitical position, bridging Europe, the Middle East, and Asia

What to Expect from the Antalya Talks

While the agenda has not been made public, discussions are likely to center around:

• The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war

• Terrorism and hybrid threats across NATO’s southern flank

• Defense spending targets and burden-sharing

• Coordination ahead of the next NATO Summit

The gathering is expected to serve as a platform for informal consensus-building, ahead of more formal summits later this year.