The 2026 NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, hosted by Turkey after 22 years, drew attention not only with its political decisions but also with the special menu offered to the leaders. Prof. Müge Arslan, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Üsküdar University, stating that dining tables are an important diplomatic tool in international summits, said, "In table diplomacy, menu selection is not just about determining the dishes to be served; it is a strategic element that reflects the host country's culture, values, and the importance it places on its guests."
Prof. Arslan noted that a well-designed menu can leave a lasting impression, and every item served at the table represents the host country's cultural memory, values, and the importance it places on its guests, adding, "Sometimes diplomacy comes to life in a sentence, and sometimes in the shared experience of sharing the same table."
As Turkey hosted the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on July 7-8, 2026, again after 22 years, the official dinner presented to the leaders drew the attention of the international public as much as the summit's diplomatic agenda.
Prof. Müge Arslan, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, evaluated the role of gastronomy in international relations.
"Table diplomacy" one of the silent but powerful tools of international relations
Stating that the concept of "table diplomacy" is gaining increasing importance in the literature of international relations, Prof. Müge Arslan continued:
"In international summits, diplomacy is not only conducted in meeting rooms, but sometimes it also takes shape at the dining table. For example; September 4-17, 1978 – Camp David Accords; Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, and Menachem Begin dined together and held informal conversations for 13 days at the Camp David Presidential Retreat in the USA. This intimate environment laid the foundation for the agreements signed on September 17, 1978, and subsequently the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. June 28-29, 2019 – G20 Osaka Summit The interactions between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping during the leaders' working dinners contributed to a temporary softening in the US-China trade war. Such meals are highly important and hold significant importance in terms of 'table diplomacy' in international relations."
Menu selection is not just about choosing dishes
Prof. Arslan pointed out that menus prepared for diplomatic tables are not accidental choices, stating, "Menu selections made at such tables are also highly important. In table diplomacy, menu selection is not just about determining the dishes to be served; it is a strategic element that reflects the host country's culture, values, and the importance it places on its guests. The main reasons for its importance are: it represents cultural identity, shows the value given to the guest, creates a sincere communication environment, contributes to the country's image, and contains symbolic messages."
2026 NATO Summit menu presented Turkey's gastronomic map to the world
Prof. Müge Arslan pointed out that the menu chosen for the NATO Summit featured a special design bringing together different regions of Turkey at the same table, and continued:
"The menu offered to guests at the 2026 NATO Summit became an important element introducing the richness and cultural heritage of Turkish cuisine to the world. Every delicacy presented to the leaders was not just a meal; it also served as a diplomatic tool reflecting Turkey's hospitality, gastronomy culture, and local values. Because a well-chosen menu is one of the strongest details that remains in the memory of countries. The menu announced for the official dinner of the 2026 NATO Summit included products and dishes selected from different regions of Turkey.
The menu featured delicacies such as Stone oven pide, Kayseri mantısı, sea bass or beef ribs, Sütlü Nuriye, Maraş ice cream, Trabzon butter, Hizan honeycomb, Urla mastic artichoke, Tokat grape leaves, and firik pilaf."
Not a single region, but all of Anatolia met at the same table
Prof. Arslan stated that this choice was a conscious gastronomy strategy, and said:
"This meticulously prepared menu; in addition to being a gastronomic feast, contained important symbolic messages conveyed in political diplomacy. We can also consider this situation as a kind of 'Gastronomy Diplomacy'. The messages conveyed in gastronomy diplomacy are as follows:
Turkey's cultural diversity: The menu represents Turkey's rich gastronomic heritage by bringing together products from not just one region, but from the Black Sea, Central Anatolia, Aegean, Southeastern, and Eastern Anatolia.
Local production and geographical identity: The selection of local products such as Trabzon butter, Hizan honeycomb, Urla mastic artichoke, and Tokat grape leaves emphasizes local production and Anatolia's agricultural diversity.
Tradition met modern presentation
The meeting of tradition and modernity: Traditional dishes such as Kayseri mantısı and Sütlü Nuriye were served with modern presentation techniques, highlighting both the deep-rooted and contemporary aspects of Turkish cuisine.
Guest-centric approach: Offering both fish and red meat alternatives for the main course can be seen as a diplomatic approach that shows respect for different palates and dietary preferences.
Gastrodiplomacy increases countries' soft power
Prof. Müge Arslan stated that gastronomy has become one of the important elements of public diplomacy for countries today, saying, "Soft power: Before the summit, Turkey organized 'gastrodiplomacy' events promoting Turkish cuisine as a public diplomacy tool. Officials emphasized that shared tables can foster mutual understanding that official documents sometimes cannot provide. This indicates that the menu was designed not just as an offering, but as a communication tool illustrating Turkey's cultural identity and hospitality. Sometimes diplomacy comes to life in a sentence, and sometimes in the shared experience of sharing the same table."
