Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged NATO allies to remove restrictions on defence cooperation and called for Turkey to play a greater role in Europe’s emerging security architecture.
Addressing the NATO Summit in Ankara, Erdoğan presented Turkey’s defence industry and military capabilities as central to its contribution to the Alliance, while warning that EU initiatives excluding non-member allies risked creating new divisions.
Turkey’s defence industry ambitions
Erdoğan said Turkey now ranked among the world’s ten leading countries in defence production and exports, describing the sector’s development as one of the country’s most significant achievements.
He announced that Ankara had allocated an additional $24 billion for air and missile defence capabilities, which he described as one of NATO’s most significant capability gaps.
“As the country with the largest land army in Europe, we are making every effort to place our capabilities at the Alliance’s disposal whenever required,” Erdoğan said.
He added that Turkey had taken steps to increase its defence expenditure to 3.5% of gross domestic product before 2030.
Call to remove restrictions
Erdoğan linked the future of what he called “NATO 3.0” to closer cooperation among allied defence industries and the removal of restrictions affecting military procurement.
“Restrictions among allies in the field of defence cooperation, particularly in the defence industry, must be lifted,” he said.
The Turkish president said the same position had been supported by government and industry representatives attending the NATO Defence Industry Forum.
Turkey has faced restrictions affecting parts of its defence sector and is seeking wider participation in European programmes designed to increase military production and strengthen the continent’s defence capabilities.
Turkey’s role in NATO operations
Erdoğan also highlighted Turkey’s participation in NATO missions, exercises and deployments.
He cited Turkish contributions in Kosovo, the Black Sea and the Baltic states, arguing that the country remained among the Alliance’s leading operational contributors.
The Turkish president said Ankara would continue supporting NATO’s missions and strengthening the Alliance’s air and missile defence capabilities.
Warning against excluding non-EU allies
A significant part of Erdoğan’s speech focused on cooperation between NATO and the European Union.
He urged European allies to avoid creating parallel structures that could weaken NATO, duplicate existing capabilities or exclude countries that are members of the Alliance but not the EU.
“The maximum benefit from the Union’s security efforts can only be achieved by avoiding unnecessary duplication with NATO,” Erdoğan said.
He argued that excluding non-EU allies would waste limited resources and create an “artificial division” within Europe.
Erdoğan maintained that European countries could assume greater responsibility for the continent’s defence without weakening NATO’s unity or the transatlantic relationship.
Support for Trump’s approach to Iran
Erdoğan concluded by referring to the crisis involving Iran and expressing support for US President Donald Trump’s handling of the issue.
“I appreciate the determined position demonstrated by my friend Mr Trump, despite attempts at sabotage, in seeking a solution to the Iran crisis,” he said.
Source: AMNA
