Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on April 3-4, following talks in Paris on European security, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The Brussels meeting will mark the first group consultation between NATO allies and the new US administration. Structured in four sessions, it will open with discussions among the 32 allies on collective defense, burden-sharing, defense spending, the war in Ukraine and preparations for the NATO summit in The Hague in June.
Fidan will emphasize Turkey’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic security through its military capabilities and defense industry and underline the importance of NATO’s primary role in European security, according to the ministry.
A second session will include NATO’s Asia-Pacific partners — Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand — with talks focused on shared security challenges and enhanced cooperation among regional partners.
A third session will convene the NATO-Ukraine Council, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas participating to discuss Ukraine’s defense needs and efforts to end the war.
Fidan will reaffirm Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its backing for a sustainable cease-fire and lasting peace.
On April 4 Kallas will brief NATO ministers on recent EU security initiatives. Fidan is expected to stress that EU defense efforts should include full participation from non-EU allies such as Turkey.
Ahead of the NATO meeting, Fidan was scheduled to travel to Paris today to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Their talks were to focus on European security and the need for greater coordination in shaping the continent’s new security framework, the ministry said.