Ankara Summit: Türkiye's strategic weight in NATO's transformation

The NATO Ankara Summit takes place at a critical juncture where, beyond Türkiye's hosting, it will play a key role in determining how the Alliance will shape its future in the face of the challenges of the new era. Taking place in a context where the restructuring of the transatlantic alliance is being debated under intense American pressure, the summit constitutes a turning point that will determine the strategic orientations of allies in the new period. Earlier this year, while it was being discussed that President Trump, who repeated his threat to annex Greenland, would not attend NATO summits, his arrival in Ankara at President Erdoğan's invitation stands out as a development that will prevent the internal debates within NATO from turning into a complete rupture. As Washington plans to transfer more of the common defense burden to Europe in the coming period, Türkiye's emergence as one of the strongest countries within the Alliance in terms of defense industry production capacity makes this summit even more significant.

TÜRKİYE'S STRATEGIC CONTRIBUTION

We are passing through a period where it is no longer possible for NATO to define itself solely around the concept of common defense against Russia, and where other allies must take on more responsibility as American priorities shift. In recent years, Türkiye's exemplary leadership stands out, having more than fulfilled its responsibilities by passing serious tests both in managing regional geopolitical threats and in building its national defense industry. Türkiye is now demonstrating leadership far beyond being the defender of NATO's southern flank, contributing both to the Alliance's common vision and to the solution of its practical problems. At a time when it was being discussed that problems between the US and Europe had brought the Alliance to the brink of disintegration, Türkiye's strategic leadership contribution, far beyond hosting, is of a nature that will make possible the reconstruction of the Alliance's common security architecture.

Although America's effort to pivot to the Asia-Pacific has not materialized after many years, this effort has had concrete consequences for Europe. Starting from the Obama years, America's complaint about the burden of global leadership has turned into a policy demanding more defense responsibility from Europe. The anti-globalist and nationalist reaction that came to power with Trump problematized America's contributions to the security of its allies through support for Ukraine. Nevertheless, America continues to be an indispensable actor within NATO, because it is impossible to replace America in many areas, from nuclear deterrence to strategic intelligence, from global power projection to logistics systems. At precisely this point, Türkiye's role within NATO becomes even more critical, because excluding non-EU countries within the Alliance would be a strategic error that would weaken and destabilize Europe.

NATIONAL DEFENSE CAPACITY

From the years when Türkiye was perceived as NATO's outpost, we have now reached a point where it has become a main actor in many areas, from the Ukraine war and Black Sea security to regional terrorism and energy security. Türkiye, which has shown that bringing peace and stability to the surrounding regions is not merely a declaration of good intentions, has repeatedly demonstrated that it plays a critical role for the security of NATO member countries on issues such as irregular migration and energy crises. Despite being a NATO member, Türkiye has managed to maintain its strategic interests and diplomatic effectiveness by not severing its ties with countries like Iran and Russia, which NATO countries have directly or indirectly engaged in war with, thus also ensuring that its national defense and international alliances are not perceived as a threat by other states.

The critical importance of defense industry capacity, which has emerged as one of the most discussed topics at this summit, is among the foremost lessons of the Ukraine and Iran wars. Having already taken this lesson and acted in the face of the threats created by the Syrian civil war, Türkiye has made a leap in many areas, including unmanned aerial vehicles, missile defense systems, electronic warfare, and ammunition production. Unlike Europe, Türkiye has achieved a position where it can largely provide for its own security by not waiting under America's strategic security umbrella and instead seeking to rapidly increase its national capacity. Of course, this does not render the common security concepts of alliances like NATO meaningless; on the contrary, it increases Türkiye's contribution to common security by enhancing the Alliance's deterrence.

Considering the Alliance's strategic transformation, tensions between the US and Europe, Türkiye's national capacity, and the threats of the new era, it is understood that the Ankara Summit carries a critical importance far beyond the showcase of hosting. In this context, it is important that Türkiye's special place within NATO is acknowledged, and that new strategic orientations reflect Türkiye's security concerns and priorities. Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Türkiye has transformed over the last twenty years from a position seen as an outpost to a main actor contributing to the determination of the Alliance's orientation, and has become an indispensable ally for the establishment of international security and stability. In an environment of uncertainty created by America both in the region and in the international system, Türkiye's unwavering attitude in determining its own course underscores that NATO, despite all its problems, can transform itself and respond to the requirements of the new era.