07.07.2026 09:50
Speaking within the scope of the NATO Ankara Summit, once again hosted by Türkiye after 22 years, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler emphasized that the message from the summit must be clear, stating, "Our commitment to Article 5 is unwavering, and political commitments will be supported by credible military force." Güler highlighted that Türkiye has NATO's second-largest army and expressed that Europe should take on more responsibility in defense.
National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, speaking at an event organized as part of the NATO Ankara Summit, stated that the message from the summit must be clear, saying, "Our commitment to Article 5 is unwavering, and political commitments will be supported by reliable military power." Güler emphasized that Turkey has the second largest army in NATO and made assessments regarding the alliance's role in the new security environment.
National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, speaking at a program organized within the scope of the NATO Ankara Summit, delivered important messages regarding the security challenges facing the alliance and Turkey's position within NATO.
"THE MESSAGE FROM ANKARA MUST BE CLEAR"
Drawing attention to the importance of the summit, Güler stated that NATO must display a strong and determined stance in the new era, saying, "The message from Ankara must be clear. Our commitment to Article 5 is unwavering, and political commitments will be supported by reliable military power."
"NATO IS NO LONGER JUST A MILITARY ALLIANCE"
Thanking the participants at the beginning of his speech, Güler noted that NATO is not merely a military alliance, stating, "NATO is no longer just a military alliance. It is also an alliance that strengthens collective defense, political cooperation, and the transatlantic bond."
Emphasizing that alliances must adapt to changing conditions, Güler evaluated NATO's transformation from its founding to the present day as three periods: "NATO 1.0," "NATO 2.0," and "NATO 3.0."
"THE UKRAINE WAR CHANGED THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT"
Güler stated that the Ukraine war has reshaped Euro-Atlantic security and said that developments related to Israel and the US also show that regional crises can have global consequences.
Expressing that threats have become much more complex, Güler stated that NATO must maintain its 360-degree security understanding.
"EUROPE MUST ASSUME MORE RESPONSIBILITY"
Stating that European allies need to take on more responsibility, Güler said this is not limited to increasing defense budgets.
Pointing out that trained personnel, ammunition, logistics, a strong command structure, and burden sharing are at least as important as the budget, Güler noted that operational readiness must be increased.
"TURKEY'S ROLE IN NATO 3.0 IS VERY CLEAR"
Recalling that, unlike many European countries, Turkey did not reduce its armed forces after the Cold War, Güler stated that Turkey has a large, professional, and active army.
Noting that the defense industry is also continuously growing, Güler said that thanks to its institutional structure and operational experience, Turkey can provide rapid support to allies.
"TURKEY HAS THE SECOND LARGEST ARMY IN NATO"
Emphasizing that Turkey has not been an ordinary member of NATO since 1952, Güler stated that it has always assumed significant responsibilities due to its geographical location.
Noting that Turkey has the second largest army in NATO, Güler expressed that with its high training standards, operational experience, and strong military capacity, it actively contributes to NATO missions from Kosovo to the Mediterranean, and from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
He added that the recently conducted exercises also reveal the critical role Turkey plays in Euro-Atlantic security.