Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler welcomed NATO defense ministers and senior alliance officials to the Ay Yıldız (Crescent and Star) Joint Headquarters in Ankara on Tuesday, using the high-profile reception to showcase Türkiye's next-generation military command center as the country hosts the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
The reception was held in the Yıldız (Star) section of the still-under-construction headquarters, according to Türkiye's National Defense Ministry. Güler greeted guests upon their arrival before delivering remarks during the event, which formed part of the two-day NATO summit in the Turkish capital.
The gathering offered one of the first major international glimpses inside the sprawling Ay Yıldız complex, an ambitious defense project that will eventually bring together the Turkish Armed Forces' top command under one roof.
Designed to centralize Türkiye's military leadership, the headquarters will house the National Defense Ministry, the General Staff, and the commands of the Land, Naval and Air Forces in a single integrated complex. Officials say the project will strengthen coordination, speed decision-making and enhance the country's joint operational capabilities.
