Von der Leyen: Türkiye among NATO’s largest armed forces, key for EU ties

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that Türkiye is one of NATO's largest military powers and plays an important role both within the alliance and in relations with the European Union. Speaking at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara during a panel discussion with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, von der Leyen highlighted the importance of deeper NATO-EU coordination, joint procurement, and strengthening Europe's defense industrial base amid a changing security environment. She stressed that EU member states and NATO allies largely rely on “one single set of forces” and that the current geopolitical environment requires “a massive surge in defense investment.”

Türkiye’s role and EU cooperation

Von der Leyen said: “Türkiye is one of the largest armed forces within NATO, of very big importance, and has always played an important role in the alliance but also, of course, in our relationship with the European Union.” She added that there are opportunities for closer cooperation between Türkiye and European defense initiatives, including the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, which provides financing for joint defense procurement.

Rutte on Türkiye’s defense model

Rutte said NATO and the EU have a clear division of responsibilities and can strengthen each other by working together. He praised Türkiye’s defense industry structure, noting that the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat reports directly to the president and oversees about 3,000 defense companies working closely together. “I think that’s a model which is very interesting, and I know that some other allies are studying it to see whether they could implement it in their country,” Rutte said, adding that Europe must become a stronger partner within NATO and reduce overreliance on the United States.