More than a summit: NATO 3.0 and Türkiye’s vision for global peace
Dr. Mehmet Muharrem KASAPOĞLU
The world is passing through a breaking point that will alter the course of history. Precisely at this critical juncture, our country is hosting a historic gathering on July 7-8, 2026, in our capital, Ankara, at our source of pride, the Crescent and Star Joint Headquarters (Ay Yıldız Müşterek Karargahı). The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit is not an ordinary meeting on the international relations agenda. Member states will outline the framework of their strategic response to the new security paradigm at this meeting. The leaders of 32 allied nations, invited heads of state, ministers and thousands of diplomats will convene in Ankara. It is evident that we are in an era of uncertainty where old rules have been shattered, and we cannot fully predict what we will face tomorrow. In this environment where tension has replaced stability, the Ankara Summit is crucial for NATO’s approach to the new world.
A new era in NATO
To fully comprehend the significance of the summit, it is useful first to summarize the transformation NATO is undergoing. During the Cold War years, NATO represented the “NATO 1.0” model, based on border defense and nuclear deterrence against a distinct adversary. Following the dissolution of the Soviets, the “NATO 2.0” era ensued, characterized by crisis management, counter-terrorism and cross-border operations. Today, however, the global agenda is manifesting in entirely different dimensions.
