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President Erdogan urges NATO unity, pledges higher Turkish defence spending and $24 billion for missile defence
Summary
At the Ankara summit President Erdogan pledged to raise Turkey’s defence spending toward 3.5%, announced a $24 billion allocation for air and missile defence capabilities and urged allies to remove industrial restrictions while warning against EU duplication that could weaken NATO cohesion.
President Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, used his address at the Ankara summit to call for closer NATO cooperation and to outline a package of defence commitments and diplomatic priorities.
Erdogan said Turkey "would like to increase our defence spending to 3.5%" and noted the country had already reached a budget share of "1.5%." He announced an additional budget allocation, saying: "We have allocated an additional budget of $24 billion to air and missile defense capabilities" and cited the "Steel Dome" project as an example of Turkey’s contributions.
The president framed the defence commitments as part of a broader push to make European allies "more better security providers," saying Turkey ranks among the Alliance’s top 10 countries for production and export capacity and has "been allocated 361 capability targets" that he expects "almost all of them will have been covered within three years." He emphasized that Turkey’s forces and capabilities are supporting NATO operations in Kosovo, the Black Sea, the Baltic area and elsewhere.
Erdogan outlined two priorities to accelerate a so-called "NATO 3.0" goal: lifting restrictions among allies in the defence industry and avoiding decisions that "may weaken the integrity of the alliance and transatlantic relationships." He warned that unnecessary duplication between European Union initiatives and NATO, and exclusion of non-EU allies, could waste limited resources and create divisions.
On Ukraine, Erdogan said Turkey will continue military support from national inventories and said he supports prioritizing the Ukraine Requirements List initiative and working through the Pearl Initiative. He also said Turkey uses communication channels "to direct Russia towards peace." Regarding Iran, Erdogan thanked former U.S. President Trump for efforts to "ensure the Iranian crisis entered into a trajectory of settlement" and said Turkey is ready "to provide required contribution to clear the Strait of Hormuz from mines" if necessary.
Erdogan thanked allied partners for air-defence support, mentioning the United States, Spain, Germany and Italy for deploying additional batteries to help protect Turkey from missile threats. He also highlighted the role of states participating under the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and reiterated that "the key for lasting peace in the Middle east is a two state solution," specifically referencing Gaza and Lebanon. He closed by calling for solidarity against terrorism and wishing the Ankara summit "auspicious results."
The remarks were delivered as a policy address to summit attendees; no formal motions or votes were recorded during the speech.
