French President Emmanuel Macron stepped out of his Ankara hotel early Wednesday morning and went for a run through the Türkiye’s capital, weaving past his bodyguards and French officials around Seğmenler Park and the Çankaya neighbourhood before heading to the NATO summit venue for the official family photo and leaders’ session.
Macron was photographed waving to media crews and members of the public as he ran, in what has become a signature habit on foreign trips. He has been spotted jogging during visits to China, India and Egypt, and Wednesday’s run in Ankara was no different despite one of the tightest security operations in the city’s recent history.
Türkiye had earlier denied reports that certain city routes had been closed exclusively to accommodate the French president’s morning run. Security across the capital was already at maximum levels for the 36th NATO summit, which brought together leaders including US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The video, quickly circulated online and drew widespread attention, adding a lighter moment to a summit otherwise dominated by Iran strikes, Greenland disputes and loaded revolvers gifts.
