Ursula von der Leyen’s dinner with Erdogan in Ankara tense at NATO summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a work dinner on 8 July 2026 in Ankara, immediately after the NATO summit. The gathering also included European Council President António Costa and was described as taking place in a "moderately tense" atmosphere.

The talks focused on balancing EU‑Turkey strategic cooperation with persistent EU concerns over the rule of law, human‑rights issues and Turkey’s EU accession bid. EU officials highlighted the importance of security collaboration, noting the 150‑billion‑euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence programme, from which Turkey can contribute up to 35 % because of blockades by Greece and Cyprus. Olof Gill said, "Turkey is an important partner for the European Union," while Engin Eroğlu called the meeting a chance for a new start in relations. Von der Leyen also reaffirmed a broad opportunity for closer cooperation, echoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s comments at the NATO summit.