Türkiye urges NATO to turn spending pledges into capabilities

National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said on Tuesday that Türkiye welcomes NATO allies' growing defense commitments but warned that higher budgets must become concrete military capabilities, trained personnel and resilient industries to produce real deterrence. Speaking at the NATO Allies in Ankara event — hosted in cooperation with the Communications Directorate, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), and the Munich Security Conference — Güler stated that "increasing defense spending is important, yet spending money alone does not produce deterrence."

He stressed that NATO’s credibility will depend on whether allies can turn political commitments into ready forces, ammunition stocks, logistics networks, integrated air and missile defense, command-and-control structures and industrial capacity. Noting that the alliance had evolved through distinct phases since World War II — from Cold War collective defense to crisis management and counterterrorism — Güler underlined that NATO has now entered a new era requiring credible collective defense alongside the ability to respond to crises from all directions.

Burden-sharing beyond budget figures

Güler said Türkiye supports a stronger, more balanced alliance in which European allies assume greater responsibility for defense, while the transatlantic bond and US security commitment remain indispensable. However, he added that burden-sharing should not be measured only by budget figures, noting that operational risks, geography, readiness levels, mission contributions, industrial capacity and the ability to act during crises must also factor into calculations.

Pointing to Türkiye’s long-standing role within the alliance, Güler said the country preserved a sizable, professional and active military force while many European countries reduced their armed forces, stockpiles and defense production capacity after the Cold War. Türkiye, which joined NATO in 1952, has never been merely a geographical frontline state but has consistently assumed risks, carried responsibility in the field and contributed to deterrence when necessary, he said.

Türkiye maintains NATO’s second-largest army and one of the alliance’s most capable forces, distinguished by high readiness, operational experience, strong training standards and joint operational capacity, according to the minister. He said Türkiye’s contributions extend from the Baltic region to the Black Sea and encompass NATO missions, operations and exercises, as well as responsibilities in maritime security, crisis management, training and deterrence.

Defense industry and strategic priorities

Güler highlighted Türkiye’s defense industry achievements, noting that Ankara has developed advanced capabilities in unmanned systems, air defense, electronic warfare, ammunition, naval platforms, aviation and command-and-control technologies. Over the next three years, Türkiye will give greater priority to air and ballistic missile defense, long-range fires and unmanned vehicle systems to meet both NATO capability targets and national defense requirements, he said, adding that these assets can help close NATO’s capability and production gaps when properly integrated.

Türkiye favors cooperation over rivalry, joint production over exclusion and capability-based cooperation over restrictions in the defense industry, Güler noted. On European security, he welcomed a stronger European defense contribution provided that it reinforces NATO rather than competes with it, stating that "NATO-EU cooperation must be inclusive, integrating and mutually reinforcing."

Ankara summit and 360-degree security

Güler said the NATO summit in Ankara would serve as a critical threshold for the alliance to address unity, cohesion, defense investments, industrial production, support for Ukraine and future deterrence. He said the message from Ankara should be clear — NATO’s Article 5 commitment remains ironclad, but pledges must be backed by credible military power.

He underlined that NATO must preserve a 360-degree approach to security, covering both the eastern and southern flanks as well as challenges beyond the Euro-Atlantic area. The Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, Syria, Iraq, the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Sahel, the Black Sea and the Caucasus constitute a single strategic environment, he said, adding that modern security requires secure data, reliable supply chains, protected infrastructure, resilient societies and the ability to act faster than adversaries — not merely tanks, aircraft and ships.