Search & fact check with cited sources for What was the purpose and agenda of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas's visit to Ankara on June 29–30, 2026, alongside Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, and how does the visit relate to EU Tür

Visa liberalization

• Visa liberalization for Turkish citizens was explicitly on the agenda, alongside EU membership process and Customs Union modernization .

Migration

• Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, participated specifically to address migration cooperation .
• Kallas described Türkiye as an "indispensable partner" on migration, defence, and regional stability .

Regional stability and security

• Talks covered regional security challenges, including the war in Ukraine and broader geopolitical dynamics .
• The visit was timed to coordinate positions ahead of the NATO summit, where Ukraine, the alliance's southern flank, and defence spending were expected to dominate .

The two-state solution in the Middle East

• In an Anadolu interview on the eve of her visit, Kallas stated that Israeli settlement activities are making a two-state solution increasingly difficult .
• She reiterated that the two-state solution "remains the only viable way to bring lasting peace and stability to the Middle East" .
• She affirmed strong EU support for Palestinians and described Türkiye as a key regional partner on this issue .

Connection to the NATO Summit (July 7–8, 2026)

The visit was directly linked to the NATO Summit in Ankara. Key connections include:

• Timing: The EU delegation arrived just over a week before the summit, which will gather 32 NATO leaders at the Beştepe Presidential Compound .
• Coordination: Kallas said the visit aimed to align EU and Turkish positions on common security challenges ahead of the summit .
• Türkiye's role: Kallas called the NATO summit in Türkiye "truly historic" — it is only the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye (after Istanbul in 2004) .
• Security agenda: The summit is expected to address allied unity, defence spending, the war in Ukraine, and the alliance's southern flank, all of which featured in the EU-Türkiye talks .
• Broader context: Turkish President Erdoğan indicated he would likely hold bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on the summit sidelines, underscoring Ankara's central geopolitical role .