Türkiye to host $70T economic bloc at NATO Ankara summit

Sekib Avdagic, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), said more than 40 countries representing a combined economic output of $70 trillion will convene in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday for the NATO summit. The gathering underscores Türkiye’s newly established central role in Europe’s broader security and economic architecture, he told Anadolu.

Avdagic said Türkiye’s rising global standing stems largely from domestic defense industry advances over the past two decades. These capabilities will be showcased during the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum (NSDIF26) opening on the summit’s first day, he noted.

Defense production showcase

The defense forum places Türkiye’s growing defense industry ecosystem at the center of global military cooperation, Avdagic said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that some 3,000 Turkish defense firms operate across the alliance. “NATO’s premier event in transatlantic defense production, investment, and innovation is important for Türkiye,” he stated.

He pointed to Teknopark Istanbul — established in partnership with the Turkish Defense Industries Agency (SSB) in 2010 — as a key driver of the country’s advanced defense and technology production. “Hundreds of research and development (R&D) firms and thousands of engineers are building the present and future of the Turkish defense industry at this technopark, and we will continue to support every link in the defense industry chain,” he added. The NSDIF26 sessions will run parallel to the main summit proceedings beginning Tuesday.