Turkey imposes arrests and bans ahead of NATO summit in Ankara

Turkish authorities have detained more than 200 individuals in Ankara on suspicions of links to the Islamic State and left‑wing extremist groups, including 56 alleged ISIS fighters and 35 members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front. The prosecutor’s office issued arrest warrants for 241 suspects, of whom 209 were taken into custody during police and gendarmerie raids.

In preparation for the NATO leaders’ summit on 7‑8 July, the government has declared a security zone, deploying 56 288 security personnel, restricting traffic, and banning all public gatherings, demonstrations, elections, festivals and even weddings from 28 June to 10 July. Drone flights are prohibited, and access to certain streets and buildings around the summit venue and diplomatic hotels is barred. A new VIP runway, costing over 10 billion Turkish lira, is being built to accommodate a landing for U.S. President Donald Trump.

The measures aim to ensure safety for the heads of the 32 NATO member states and to showcase Turkey’s “diplomatic weight” within the alliance.