UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan, NATO chief discuss challenges to collective security

UPDATE WITH RUTTE'S COMMENTS ON X, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, DECK

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday discussed the "growing challenges” to the alliance’s collective security.

Meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara, the two leaders discussed the "the threat of terrorism, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis in the Middle East," Rutte said on X.

"In an increasingly unpredictable world, Türkiye makes invaluable contributions to NATO," he added.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler also attended the meeting at the Presidential Complex, which marked Rutte’s first visit to Türkiye since taking the post last month, the Turkish Presidency said in a statement.

Fidan also held separate one-on-one talks with the NATO chief, the Foreign Ministry said.

Rutte, a former Dutch premier, became NATO’s 14th secretary-general in October, succeeding the long-serving Jens Stoltenberg.

Türkiye has been a member of the alliance since 1952 – over 70 years.