During his speech at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his call for Turkey’s inclusion in the European Union’s Strategic Armaments Fund for Europe (SAFE) — a joint defense procurement initiative aimed at strengthening European defense industrial capacity.
Removing Barriers to Allied Defense Cooperation
Erdogan highlighted two key priorities to accelerate the realization of what he termed “NATO 3.0.” First, he urged the removal of restrictions on defense cooperation among allies — particularly in the defense industry. “We welcome the fact that this message has been emphasized both by industry officials and government representatives at the Defense Industry Forum,” he said.
Cautious Stance on EU-Led Defense Integration
Erdogan also voiced concern over efforts to deepen European defense integration outside NATO’s framework. Addressing EU allies directly, he warned that duplicating capabilities already covered by NATO would waste limited resources and risk creating an artificial division across Europe. “The maximum benefit in the Union’s security efforts is possible only by avoiding unnecessary overlaps with NATO,” he stated. “While a cooperative model guided by logic and common sense is feasible, excluding non-EU allies will lead to inefficiency — and a division we strongly oppose.”
Support for Ukraine’s Prioritization Initiative
Erdogan expressed Turkey’s continued support for Ukraine’s initiative to compile priority lists of military needs. “We will continue our contributions beyond the military aid we’ve already provided from our national stockpiles,” he said. “By supporting Ukraine, we are using our diplomatic channels to steer Russia toward peace.”
Remarks on Middle East Peace and Iran
In closing, Erdogan reiterated longstanding Turkish positions on regional diplomacy. He praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership in seeking a resolution to the Iran crisis — despite what he described as “sabotage attempts.” He reaffirmed Turkey’s support for the two-state solution as the cornerstone of lasting peace in the Middle East and stressed collective responsibility for stability in Gaza and Lebanon.