During a phone call with Stoltenberg, Erdoğan stated that Türkiye had shared with Russia and Ukraine that it could gladly host a leaders' summit or technical talks.

The call addressed regional matters and the Türkiye-NATO cooperation on the 70th anniversary of Türkiye's accession to NATO, while NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg congratulated Erdoğan on the 70th anniversary of Türkiye's accession to NATO.

Erdoğan, for his part, thanked NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for always clearly underlining on various platforms Türkiye’s indispensable place within the Alliance.

Stressing that Türkiye had since the very beginning and would continue to display a principled, responsible, and guiding stance within the Alliance, Erdoğan said the on-going crisis between Russia and Ukraine had once again shown Türkiye's added value within NATO, and that Türkiye had argued since the very first days of the escalation that it should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, noting that Türkiye had shared with both sides that it could gladly host a leaders' summit or technical talks.

Further stating that Türkiye never hesitated to assume responsibility for and make necessary contributions to NATO's security, Erdoğan said a proper reflection of the terrorism threat with all its aspects in the new Strategic Concept was of priority, and that it was Türkiye's most natural right to expect the necessary support and solidarity from its allies in such areas as combatting terrorism in particular. (ILKHA)