Important Message from Erdoğan Before the NATO Summit: Emphasis on Security Sensitivities and Solidarity

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered an important speech as part of the NATO Parliamentary Summit held in İstanbul, ahead of the NATO Leaders Summit to be held in Ankara on 7-8 Temmuz. Coming together at a luncheon hosted in honor of NATO Parliament Presidents, Erdoğan expressed his hope that the summit would be productive and thanked all participants. Emphasizing that the upcoming Ankara Summit is of critical importance for global peace and security, Erdoğan stated that he believes this meeting holds a distinct significance. Noting that Turkey is among the leading countries that best read the dynamics of the new era, the leader once again demonstrated his country's commitment to NATO. These contacts are expected to make a significant contribution to strengthening the mutual understanding among allies.

Stating that Euro-Atlantic security is going through a historic turning point, Erdoğan pointed out that we live in an era where old molds and preconceptions are being dismantled one by one. Indicating a process where tension is replacing stability and chaos is replacing order, the President stated that predictability is gradually decreasing and the global system is in deep uncertainty. He stated that the humanitarian tragedy witnessed recently, especially the events taking place in Gaza and Lübnan, has severely damaged the credibility of international institutions. Noting that it is no longer possible to explain the current global picture with old concepts, Erdoğan emphasized that maintaining NATO's deterrence is of vital importance in this fragile environment. He also added that strengthening solidarity among allies is of critical importance for the future of the alliance.

Expressing that the importance of NATO's role has multiplied with the change in the geopolitical equation, Erdoğan emphasized Turkey's unique skills in managing regional crises. He reminded that Turkey, which has a land border with crisis regions exceeding Bin 800 kilometers, has contributed to the alliance for over 70 years with its strong army and modern military capabilities. Underlining that Turkey takes very active roles in NATO missions and supports the preservation of global peace, the leader stated that the Ankara Summit will be the strongest platform for sharing this vast experience with allies. He noted that they observe intense global interest in this summit. Addressing the parliamentarians who undertake the humanitarian duty of guaranteeing the right to life, Erdoğan stated that steps must be taken to meet the demands of people for peace and prosperity.

Stating that Turkey has been successfully fighting against terrorism for many years and is working with all its might to completely end this issue, the President expressed that they have serious expectations from NATO in this regard. He said that their primary expectation from the summit is to achieve results that respect the national security sensitivities of all allies. In this regard, he emphasized that barriers to defense industry trade must be urgently removed and that a fair sharing of the burden among allies is essential. Noting that they have steadily increased their defense spending in line with the commitments made at the Lahey Summit, he reminded that Turkey is among the top five countries contributing the most to NATO missions. However, he added critically that despite all these great sacrifices, Turkey's indispensable contributions to European security are intentionally overlooked in some cases.

Advocating in a highly clear manner that Turkey must be included in the defense and security initiatives launched by the European Union, Erdoğan stated that they expect the parliamentarians to show close interest and support on this matter. He stated that excluding Turkey's massive capacity in the defense sector due to narrow and short-sighted political interests will benefit neither themselves nor the alliance. He noted that Turkey must absolutely have a say in the future development of the alliance's European pillar, and that his country has a strong will to be involved in all security initiatives on the continent. Finally, he concluded his remarks by stating that it is necessary to establish a vision of an unconditional and unreserved security partnership extending from Teksas to Ankara. It is anticipated that the steps to be taken in the upcoming period will accelerate the establishment of a new and fair security architecture not only regionally, but also on a global scale.