President Lee Arrives in Türkiye to Attend NATO Summit

 [Financial News, Ankara (Türkiye) and Seoul = Seong Seok-woo, Choi Jong-geun]President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Ankara, Türkiye, on the 7th local time to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, beginning a five-day, four-night overseas trip. This is his first time attending a NATO summit since taking office.
The president arrived at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara at around 1:22 p.m. that day. A blue carpet had been laid out for him, and 56 honor guards in green, white and blue uniforms, along with two women in traditional Turkish dress holding welcome bouquets, were waiting.
President Lee stepped off Code One wearing a navy suit with a green-striped tie, while First Lady Kim Hye-kyung wore a white two-piece outfit. Lee greeted the crowd with his right hand raised after leaving the aircraft, and Kim came down the stairs arm in arm with him.
On the Turkish side, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Special Envoy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Beste Pehlivan Sun, Ankara Deputy Governor Cem Akbay, Ankara Deputy Mayor Çadaşı Sarıaslan, and Ankara Central Commander Ayhan Karender welcomed the presidential couple. South Korea was represented by Ambassador to Türkiye Boo Seok-jong.
The presidential couple received bouquets from the two women holding welcome flowers, shook hands, and then greeted the Turkish officials one by one, including Minister Ersoy. They also exchanged greetings with Ambassador Boo Seok-jong at the end.
President Lee is scheduled to hold his first meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this afternoon. He will then join a small-group meeting with Rutte and the leaders of Indo-Pacific partner countries, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
He will also attend the NATO Defense Industry Forum. At the forum's session titled "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base," Lee will deliver a keynote speech on "Defense Industry Cooperation Between South Korea and NATO" and take part in a panel discussion.
That evening, Lee will attend a formal welcome dinner hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife.
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter