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NATO Summit in Ankara: Turkey Presses for Inclusion in European Defense Initiatives

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Turkey Demands Full Inclusion in European Defense as NATO Summit Looms

The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled for July 7-8, has brought Turkey’s role in European and alliance defense structures into focus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Turkey’s full inclusion in all European defense and security initiatives, while US President Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance, citing his personal relationship with Erdogan.

Turkey’s Stance on European Defense Integration

Speaking to delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul on Monday, President Erdogan stated that Turkey must be included in all of Europe's defense and security structures. He noted that Turkey’s contributions to European security are sometimes overlooked and requested support for its inclusion in EU defense and security initiatives.

A central point of discussion is Turkey’s access to the European Union’s 150-billion-euro ($176 billion) Security Action for Europe (Safe) initiative, designed to strengthen European defense capabilities.

According to reports, Turkey is technically eligible for the initiative, but participation requires approval from all 27 EU member states. Reports indicate that Greece has threatened to block this approval.

NATO Defense Trade and Barriers

President Erdogan also urged NATO to remove all barriers blocking defense industry trade between member states. He called for the removal of obstacles to defense industry trade and emphasized the need for balanced burden-sharing among allies.

US-Turkey Relations and the S-400 Issue

Turkey, which maintains the second-largest army in NATO after the United States, has a growing defense industry that has been affected by US sanctions. These sanctions were imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) following Turkey’s purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system in 2019. The purchase also led to Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2020.

Lifting the CAATSA sanctions requires approval from the US Congress, which observers say is unlikely before the summit.

US President Donald Trump has stated he will attend the summit, saying on June 24, "I'm going because of Erdoğan," and describing the Turkish leader as "a friend" and "a respected leader."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed that Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with Erdogan at the summit. President Trump has pledged to give Erdogan something that would make him "very happy" during the summit. Analysts suggest this could involve the delivery of US-made F110 engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet project, which has reportedly been blocked since the sanctions were imposed.

Differing Perspectives on Turkey’s NATO Role

Analysts and former officials have offered varying assessments of Turkey’s position within the alliance:

  • James Jeffrey, former US Ambassador to Turkey: Described Erdogan as "a tough guy who is decisive." He stated that Turkey is "essential to maintaining the U.S. perimeter around Eurasia" and "has been essential to Ukraine staying in the fight."

  • Can Kasapoğlu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute: Said that NATO’s focus on collective defense increases the importance of military capability, and nations with hard power "are going to get VIP treatment."

  • Rich Outzen, former State Department advisor at the Atlantic Council: Stated: "There is no real security for NATO without full integration of Turkey."

  • Sinan Ciddi, Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Noted that Turkey is the only NATO member that has applied for membership in entities like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and it openly supports Hamas, which he said complicates defense ties.

Congressional and Alliance Concerns

Some critics have cited Turkey’s continued possession of the S-400 system, its support for Hamas, and its closer ties with non-Western blocs as points where it diverges from NATO allies.

The Trump administration has proposed a $700 million arms sale to Turkey, which has faced pushback from Democrats in Congress. Representative Gregory Meeks criticized the lack of justification regarding the S-400 issue. Ambassador Jeffrey noted that returning Turkey to the F-35 program remains constrained by the S-400 due to technology security concerns.

The Turkish embassy did not respond to a request for comment.