The Summit Meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government will be hosted by the Unites States on 20-21 May 2012 in Chicago.

Turkey will be represented in the Summit by a delegation headed by H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic, which will include also H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of National Defense.

On the margins of the Summit, a working session and lunch attended by NATO Heads of State and Government will be held; the leaders of the countries contributing to NATO’s ISAF operation and representatives of related international organizations will come together during the meeting on Afghanistan; and a meeting will be organized with the participation of some partner countries. Furthermore, separate working lunches will be held for NATO Foreign and Defense Ministers.

It is expected that priority topics on the agenda of the Alliance will be discussed and certain important decisions will be taken regarding them. Defense Package and Smart Defense, Ballistic Missile Defense System, Alliance’s Deterrence and Defense Posture Review (DDPR), partnerships and Afghanistan are the priority items on the agenda of the Summit.

At the Chicago Summit, NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence Interim Capability is expected to be declared. The main objective of this decision is to eliminate risks and dangers emanating from the spread of global ballistic missile and to ensure the security and defense of each ally. In this regard, Turkey has made a significant contribution on the basis of Alliance solidarity by hosting an early warning radar in Malatya’s Kürecik district.

The meeting to be held with the participation of the leaders of the countries, contributing to the ISAF operation will provide an opportunity to exchange comprehensive views on establishing stability and security in Afghanistan.

In the special meeting that the Allied countries will hold with thirteen partner countries, it is expected to thank these countries which have made political, financial and military contributions to the Alliance, to discuss common security threats and to take decisions on further strengthening relations between the Alliance and these partners.