Türkiye has stepped up security and transport measures in the capital Ankara ahead of next week’s NATO leaders’ summit, with temporary air traffic restrictions at Esenboga Airport and thousands of security personnel assigned across the city.
The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Ankara on July 7-8, with 52 leaders from 32 allied countries and nine invited countries expected to attend.
Speaking at a meeting in Ankara, Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said preparations for an event of this scale required “the highest level of planning and coordination” not only diplomatically but also in terms of security.
“We aim to complete the NATO Leaders’ Summit safely and without incident as a result of the measures we have taken,” he said, according to an Interior Ministry statement issued on Thursday.
Ciftci said security and traffic measures would be in place at the Presidential Complex, ATO Congresium, hotels where delegations will stay, airports, transportation routes between key locations, and entry and exit points to Ankara.
“The sole purpose of the security and traffic measures being implemented is to ensure the safety of our citizens, guest delegations and security personnel, and to ensure that the summit is held in an orderly and trouble-free manner,” he said.
He stressed that none of the measures were arbitrary or intended to disrupt daily life, adding that they were planned in line with international security standards, risk assessments and coordination among relevant institutions.
Ciftci said coordination centres had been established within the Ankara Governor’s Office and the Interior Ministry to closely monitor the summit.
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More than 56,000 personnel to be deployed
A total of 56,288 personnel will be deployed during the summit, including 48,841 police officers and 7,447 gendarmerie personnel, as well as 4,405 units, he said.
He added that 3,926 personnel would be assigned along the Esenboga Airport-Presidential Complex route, while 1,742 personnel would be deployed on routes between Murted, Ankara Airport and the Presidential Complex.
Personnel, vehicles, equipment and trained dogs will be on duty around the clock at airports, summit venues, routes and hotels to guard against possible security risks, Ciftci said.
