NATO Foreign Ministers' Informal Meeting (Antalya, 2025)

An informal diplomatic meeting involving the foreign ministers of NATO’s 32 member states was held in Antalya, Türkiye, on 14–15 May 2025.

NATO Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting, 15 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı

Nature and Objective of the Meeting

The NATO Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting took place on 14–15 May 2025 at the NEST Congress Center in the Belek Tourism Region of Antalya. Although not an official NATO summit, the meeting served as a high-level diplomatic forum where foreign ministers of allied nations convened. Hosted by Türkiye, the meeting aimed to contribute to the preparatory process for the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for June 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands.

The primary objective of the informal meeting was to facilitate exchange of views on NATO’s current security architecture and strategic direction, assess key threats and opportunities on the allies’ agenda, and establish the foundational framework for the agenda of the 2025 The Hague Summit.

This meeting was one of the informal consultations increasingly used in NATO’s institutional operations. The schedule was coordinated by Türkiye with the NATO Secretary General’s Office. As the first ministerial-level informal gathering under NATO’s expanded structure of 32 members in 2025, it marked the first participation of new member states at the level of foreign ministers.

The agenda was shaped around NATO’s core deterrent and defense missions, aiming to address priority issues such as Euro-Atlantic security, transatlantic burden sharing, increased defense spending, defense industry cooperation among NATO allies, and the cessation of the war in Ukraine. As the host country, Türkiye emphasized both the organizational and strategic significance of the meeting and adopted an active role in leading discussions on European security and NATO’s defense policies.

Diplomatic Program and Organization

The NATO Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Antalya was conducted over a two-day program. The program commenced on 14 May 2025 with the arrival of foreign ministers in Antalya. That evening, the meeting was formally opened with a welcome dinner hosted by Türkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, held at the Side Archaeological Site.

Welcome dinner for NATO Foreign Ministers in Side, 15 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı

Official sessions began on the morning of 15 May 2025. The day opened with remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to the press, followed by doorstep statements delivered by foreign ministers upon their arrival at the congress center. The opening session commenced with addresses by Türkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The central venue for the sessions was the NEST Congress Center in the Belek Tourism Region. Throughout the meeting, the center was accessible exclusively to accredited delegations and media representatives, under strict security protocols and with comprehensive media infrastructure. Following the opening speeches, an informal foreign ministers’ meeting at the level of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) was held. Public discussions focused on the transatlantic security architecture, followed by closed-door sessions for detailed negotiations.

Throughout the meeting, numerous bilateral talks took place among foreign ministers. Türkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan held separate meetings with his counterparts from the United States, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Poland. NATO Secretary General Rutte held a press conference on the second day of the meeting to convey messages on the alliance’s strategic priorities. The program concluded with an official group photograph and a closing press briefing by the Secretary General.

NATO Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting, 15 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı

Agenda Items and Discussed Issues

One of the prominent topics at the meeting was the target for NATO member states to allocate two percent of their gross domestic product to defense spending. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that current spending levels were inadequate and emphasized the necessity of infrastructure investments and broader expenditures to enhance military capabilities and resilience. It was reported that a majority of member states had met this target, while some had announced defense budgets exceeding three percent.

In the European security architecture, NATO’s decisive role was extensively discussed at the meeting. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that the alliance has been the backbone of Euro-Atlantic security for 76 years and therefore stressed the need to make NATO a more effective and deterrent structure. He also highlighted the necessity of including Türkiye in defense efforts despite its non-membership in the European Union.

Another key agenda item of the meeting was the intensification of diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine and achieve a lasting peace. NATO member states agreed that efforts to secure a fair and sustainable peace must be pursued with determination. In this context, the Russia-Ukraine negotiations initiated in Istanbul became a significant part of the meeting’s agenda.

Counterterrorism was another strategic item on the meeting’s agenda. Türkiye called on the alliance to demonstrate a more sincere and inclusive solidarity in its fight against terrorism. Additionally, calls were made to remove commercial restrictions among NATO members in the defense industry.

The ministers developed concrete policy recommendations for the The Hague Summit based on these topics. In remarks following the meeting, NATO Secretary General Rutte stated that the allies aim to share the collective defense burden more equitably, increase defense production, and strategically enhance the alliance’s deterrent capability.

NATO Foreign Ministers Informal Meeting, 15 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency

Connection to the Istanbul Peace Negotiations

The NATO Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Antalya served as a platform to assess diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine through peaceful means. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and numerous foreign ministers clearly stated that Ukraine is ready for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, and that the next steps must be taken by Russia. NATO member states expressed their support for the peace talks and welcomed the fact that the negotiations are being hosted by Türkiye.

During the meeting, Türkiye’s mediation capacity and its role in the peace process came to the fore. NATO Secretary General Rutte noted that Türkiye’s healthy relations with both Russia and Ukraine have created a suitable environment for the talks in Istanbul. It was emphasized that Türkiye has provided a trustworthy atmosphere for the parties involved.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during the Antalya sessions and subsequent press statements, said that the negotiation process has been restructured to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, and that diplomatic contacts are ongoing to bring the positions of the two sides closer. Fidan noted that both parties are原则上 open to a ceasefire, but differ on the modalities. While Ukraine advocates for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Russia has introduced certain conditions.

During the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that U.S. President Donald Trump is personally involved in the process and that no tangible progress can be achieved without direct engagement between the parties. Rubio also confirmed that the U.S. delegation will join the Istanbul negotiations alongside Ukraine’s high-level team.

European countries also offered various assessments regarding the negotiation process. Poland and the Czech Republic criticized Putin’s refusal to participate in the peace talks, while the Netherlands and Italy emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate. Latvia stated that no positive signal toward peace had been received from Russia.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot argued that Russia has sent a low-level delegation to delay the process and warned that if the negotiations fail, broader sanctions against Russia will be implemented. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the end of the war directly depends on Putin’s will and that he could choose to attend the talks in Istanbul.