Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, attended the Meetings of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs that took place in Brussels today. The meeting seeks to further coordinate policies among the member states leading up to the NATO summit in June. This meeting marks the first collective consultation between the new US administration and NATO allies, addressing a range of security issues, including collective defence, the war in Ukraine, and NATO’s cooperation with its Asia-Pacific partners. The meeting consists of four sessions.
The first session is solely attended by NATO's 32 member states and focuses on burden sharing, defence expenditures, European security, strengthening defence industry infrastructure, and preparing for the NATO summit in The Hague this June. The discussion also encompasses the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its long-term effects on European security. Minister Fidan is expected to highlight Ankara's strategic significance in Euro-Atlantic security, pointing out that Türkiye serves as a key pillar of NATO's southeastern flank and plays a vital role in regional stability through its robust military and advanced defence industry.
The second session focuses on common security challenges and enhancing cooperation with NATO's Asia-Pacific partners, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.
The third session features the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.
The discussion centres on Ukraine's pressing military and economic requirements, as well as broader security concerns.