While defense spending, deterrence and regional security dominated the agenda of the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, this year's gathering also provided an unprecedented platform for discussions on women, families and societal resilience, reflecting the alliance's increasingly comprehensive understanding of security.
Alongside the leaders' meetings, a series of parallel events highlighted issues ranging from child safety in the digital age to women's role in crisis response, post-disaster recovery and peacebuilding, demonstrating that the challenges facing allied nations extend far beyond the battlefield.
As part of the summit program, on Wednesday, first lady Emine Erdoğan hosted the spouses of heads of state and government at the historic Çankaya Mansion for a roundtable titled "Children, Technology and Security: Protecting the Next Generation." The meeting brought together first spouses from NATO allies and partner countries to discuss one of the fastest-growing security concerns of the digital era: protecting children online.
Erdoğan said digital transformation has created unprecedented opportunities but has also exposed children to new risks that require collective international action.
