NATO summit panel highlights transatlantic defence cooperation in Ankara

Defence industry experts and officials on Tuesday called for deeper transatlantic cooperation, greater interoperability, and stronger industrial partnerships among NATO allies during a panel held alongside the alliance's summit in Ankara. The discussion on "Transatlantic Defense Industry Cooperation" was organised as part of the NATO Summit Dialogues by the Turkish Atlantic Council and the Center for Foreign Policy and Security Research, hosted by TÜSİAD.

Key messages from the panel

"It is no longer enough to say that allied forces can fight together. They increasingly need to be equipped, supplied and supported together," said Fabrizio W. Luciolli of the Italian Defense Ministry, citing Italy-Türkiye cooperation as a positive example of combining industrial expertise and financing. Bulgarian venture capital researcher Dimitar Dimitrov stressed the need for better integration of satellite imagery and naval assets among Black Sea countries, adding that "resources provided by Italy, Türkiye and Bulgaria should be coordinated and interoperable." Levent Gülcan, general manager of Turkish manufacturer Yakupoğlu, highlighted the importance of equipment designed for diverse operational environments.

Türkiye’s role

Luciolli argued that governments must provide predictable policies allowing defence industries to expand production capacity and said NATO should remain "the centre of coherent cooperation" among allied industries. "Ankara demonstrates the success of this way of working," he said. The panel reflects broader discussions at the NATO summit, where the alliance is showcasing its commitment to converting defence spending into modern capabilities. The Defence Industry Forum, held alongside the summit, has already seen Türkiye sign agreements covering strike capabilities, air defence, space and surveillance, critical raw materials, and UAV superiority.