As NATO leaders convened in Ankara for the 2026 Summit on July 7-8, Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered strong praise for Türkiye’s military capabilities and rapidly expanding defense industry, underscoring the country’s growing centrality to the alliance’s security and industrial base.
In remarks highlighting Türkiye’s contributions, Rutte stated:
“Türkiye has one of the biggest armed forces in NATO, well trained. Particularly in the last 5–10 years, you have rapidly developed your defense industrial base. You now have about 3,000 companies turning out the defense industrial output that we need to defend ourselves. Ankara, Istanbul, Türkiye as a whole is really important. Your place on the map is important. Your leadership in NATO is important. The fact that you organized this summit in Ankara is evidence of that.”
This endorsement reflects Türkiye’s evolution from a key frontline member to a pivotal industrial and strategic pillar of NATO, especially amid alliance-wide pushes for higher defense spending, production ramp-up, and support for Ukraine.
Türkiye’s defense sector has undergone significant transformation over the past decade, moving toward greater self-sufficiency and innovation. Rutte has repeatedly described this as a “defense industrial revolution,” with companies like ASELSAN exemplifying the progress. He emphasized that Türkiye’s ecosystem, spanning large firms to agile smaller enterprises, is already supplying critical equipment to NATO forces and partners.
“There are thousands of companies in Türkiye producing everything NATO needs… NATO is already benefiting from Turkish defence production.”
- Mark Rutte
This growth enhances NATO’s overall resilience. With allies seeking to meet ambitious spending targets (including discussions around 5% of GDP in some contexts) and boost transatlantic production, Türkiye’s output directly addresses supply chain gaps and battlefield needs. Turkish systems have proven effective in real-world operations, offering adaptable, cost-effective solutions that complement Western platforms.
Experts note Türkiye’s strategic location bridging Europe, the Black Sea, and the Middle East, combined with its large battle-tested military, one of NATO’s largest, positions it as indispensable for collective defense, regional stability, and deterrence. Hosting the summit and the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara further amplifies this leadership.
Rutte’s comments align with his pre-summit emphasis on “delivery” following the 2025 Hague Summit: increasing defense investment, strengthening industrial bases, and sustaining Ukraine support. He praised Türkiye not only for its forces and industry but also for its role in hosting key events and contributing to alliance priorities.
Türkiye’s rising influence signals a more multipolar NATO, where Ankara’s industrial and military heft provides leverage and capabilities that benefit the entire alliance. As production and innovation become central to NATO’s future, Türkiye’s contributions are set to deepen integration and shared security across the transatlantic community.
This summit in Ankara not only celebrates progress but also cements Türkiye’s trajectory as a driving force in NATO’s evolving defense posture.
