Turkish president receives NATO chief in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Istanbul.

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan and Stoltenberg’s wife Ingrid Schulerud were also present at the reception held at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office.

Following the meeting, Stoltenberg praised Türkiye’s role in the resumption of the Black Sea grain deal.

“We also discussed finalising #Finland & #Sweden’s #NATO membership, which will make our Alliance stronger,” he said on Twitter.

On Thursday, the NATO secretary general arrived in Türkiye on a three-day visit that is expected to be centered around the extension of the Istanbul grain deal, and NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland.

Stoltenberg also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul on Thursday.