Turkish authorities will impose “red zones” around airports, the presidential compound, motorcade routes and delegation hotels, ban demonstrations for 15 days, restrict some international flights, tighten entry checks to Ankara and deploy 40,000 police and gendarmerie units for the July NATO summit, according to official statements and state media reports.
The measures are being readied for the 36th NATO Summit, which will bring alliance leaders to Ankara on July 7 and 8 for meetings at the Beştepe Presidential Compound, the residence and offices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday that authorities would designate as “red zones” the area around Ankara Esenboğa Airport, the route from the military and protocol Etimesgut Airport, the Söğütözü neighborhood, where the presidential compound is located, protocol routes and the areas around 15 hotels used by delegations.
Vehicle and pedestrian access to those areas will be controlled, the agency said.
Demonstrations and marches will not be allowed in Ankara from July 1 to July 15, according to Anadolu. Turkish authorities have often used security grounds to restrict public gatherings.
Anadolu said 40,000 police and gendarmerie personnel would be deployed during the summit, with plainclothes police also taking part in the security operation.
Authorities will install surveillance cameras at 100 points in addition to the city’s existing urban security camera network, the report said. It also said “extraordinary security measures” would be applied at and around Esenboğa Airport, with restrictions on international flights.
Security checks at entry points to Ankara will be increased, and separate security planning will be made for cultural programs attended by the spouses of visiting leaders.
Anadolu also said Turkish authorities would share information with other countries to prevent possible protests by people who had taken part in actions abroad and were being followed by security units.
The Interior Ministry said on May 25 that Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi had chaired a security meeting ahead of the summit at which measures for the summit were discussed “in all aspects” and that the Security Directorate General and the Gendarmerie General Command made presentations.
“We are meticulously continuing all our preparations to ensure that this important meeting hosted by our country is held in peace and security,” Çiftçi said, according to the ministry.
NATO said in its media advisory that the summit will be chaired by Secretary-General Mark Rutte and held at the Beştepe Presidential Compound. The advisory also warned that many roads in Ankara will be closed for security reasons on July 7 and 8 and that access to the international media center will be possible only through official shuttles.
The summit has also affected public services and exams.
A presidential letter reported by Turkish media said civil servants in nine Ankara districts — Altındağ, Çankaya, Etimesgut, Gölbaşı, Keçiören, Mamak, Pursaklar, Sincan and Yenimahalle — would be put on administrative leave from July 6 to 12, except for those assigned to summit duties or critical services.
The letter also said exams, symposiums, panels, graduation ceremonies, festivals, concerts, entertainment events, celebrations and similar gatherings should not be planned during the summit week.
Turkey’s Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) announced Wednesday that the 2026 Ministry of Education Academy Entrance Exam and Teaching Field Knowledge Test sessions, which had been scheduled for July 12, would be held on July 26. The agency also moved the second 2026 Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Exam from July 26 to August 2.
The Ankara summit will be the second NATO summit hosted by Turkey, after İstanbul in 2004. NATO has 32 member states, and its summits bring together allied leaders to make decisions on security and defense policy.