Turkish Journalists Denied NATO Summit Access as Host Role Draws Scrutiny
By Bosphorus News Türkiye Desk
Several Turkish journalists and media outlets say they have been denied accreditation for the NATO Summit in Ankara, opening a media-access dispute days before leaders gather in the Turkish capital.
The refusals involve journalists and outlets including Halk TV, Sözcü TV, Cumhuriyet, T24, ANKA and Medyascope, according to international reports and public statements by Turkish journalists. Some applicants said they were not given a reason for the rejection or a channel to appeal the decision.
NATO's spokesperson said the alliance has long-standing accreditation procedures for major events. For summits and ministerial meetings held outside NATO Headquarters, the spokesperson said NATO relies on the host nation to provide assessments on journalists from that country to ensure access to the meeting site.
The spokesperson also said NATO was in contact with Turkish authorities on accreditation for the Ankara summit and that it was important for the alliance that media can attend major events in person.
A NATO accreditation notice reviewed by Bosphorus News said one applicant's request for media accreditation "cannot be granted" and added that the reasons for the decision could not be discussed. The notice described the decision as final.
Sözcü TV journalist Burak Tatari said the channel had not received accreditation for the summit, despite having repeatedly covered Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul. He said the rejection notice did not explain the decision and stated that no information could be provided on the grounds for the final decision.
Turkish media groups and press freedom advocates have criticized the refusals. Emma Sinclair-Webb, Türkiye director at Human Rights Watch, said the case should force NATO to face questions over media freedom, rights and democracy in Türkiye.
The accreditation dispute comes as Türkiye prepares to host the July 7-8 NATO Summit under a widened security and logistics operation in Ankara. Bosphorus News previously reported that 209 people had been detained before the summit, while a separate Bosphorus News report examined Ankara's airport reopening and transport preparations ahead of the leaders' meeting.
NATO's official media advisory lists the summit venue as the Beştepe Presidential Compound and directs journalists to the alliance's accreditation process. It also lists Türkiye's Presidency Directorate of Communications as part of the local media operation and TRT as host broadcaster.
NATO has not said that the refused journalists were excluded for political reasons. Turkish authorities have not publicly detailed the criteria used in the host-country assessments cited by NATO.
That leaves the dispute focused on procedure as much as access: Turkish journalists say applications were rejected without explanation, while NATO says domestic journalist assessments for summits outside headquarters rely on the host nation.
Sources: AP, Reuters, NATO Spokesperson, NATO accreditation notice reviewed by Bosphorus News, Human Rights Watch, Burak Tatari, Emma Sinclair-Webb, Bosphorus News review and reporting.