06.07.2026 20:50
Theodossis Giorgio, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association, which brings together NGOs and think tanks from NATO member countries, made exclusive statements to Haberler.com before the summit in Ankara. Stating that global developments make the summit even more significant, Giorgio said, "Peace can never be taken for granted. It must be worked for anew every day. NATO's deterrent power is measured not only by its defense capacity but also by its ability to prevent crises before they turn into conflicts."
President of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) Theodossios Georgiou drew attention to the issue of preserving peace ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara. Stressing that peace is not a self-existing condition, Georgiou emphasized the importance of continuity in global security, stating that efforts must be made every day to achieve this goal.
Speaking exclusively to Haberler.com, Georgiou stated that NATO's strength is not limited to military capacity, but its ability to prevent crises from turning into conflict is also critical. Noting that the Alliance's deterrence is measured by its ability to resolve problems before they escalate, Georgiou said the upcoming summit holds great importance in this regard.
"PEACE CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED"
Georgiou said: "In just a few hours, the leaders of the North Atlantic Alliance will gather in Ankara. This Summit takes place at a time when international security is facing a greater test than ever before. The war in Europe, instability in the Middle East, the recent collapse of negotiations between the United States and Iran, hybrid threats, and the uncertainties permeating the international system remind us all of a simple truth: Peace can never be taken for granted. It must be worked on anew every day.
As President of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), the international organization representing the organized civil society of the Euro-Atlantic community, I travel to Ankara with a deep awareness of the institutional responsibility accompanying our mission. The Ankara Summit is called upon to confirm something greater than the Alliance's military power: its political credibility.
NATO's deterrent power is not measured solely by its defense capacity. It is measured by the unity of the Allies, the credibility of their commitments, and their ability to prevent crises before they escalate into conflict.
"WE EXPECT CLEAR DECISIONS TO EMERGE FROM THE ANKARA SUMMIT"
From this summit, we expect clear decisions to emerge to further strengthen collective defense, accelerate defense and technology cooperation, and substantially increase the resilience of democratic societies against today's evolving threats. In the twenty-first century, security does not depend solely on military capacity; it also depends on the protection of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, technological superiority, energy security, and the ability of our societies to counter disinformation and destabilization efforts.
"RESILIENCE HAS BECOME THE SECOND PILLAR OF COLLECTIVE DEFENSE"
Resilience has now become the second pillar of collective defense. At the same time, Europe is called upon to take on a greater share of responsibility. A stronger European security dimension does not compete with the Alliance; rather, it reinforces it. A stronger European pillar means a stronger transatlantic bond.
Organized civil society expects Heads of State and Government to demonstrate not only strategic determination but also social responsibility. Security is not an end in itself; it exists to protect people, democracy, and freedom. Power without dialogue leads to uncertainty; dialogue without credibility leads to inaction. The Alliance must remain committed to both: deterrence and dialogue.
History will judge the Ankara Summit not only by the decisions it makes but also by whether the Alliance's leaders can demonstrate that collective security goes hand in hand with collective responsibility. Ultimately, the strongest alliance is not the one with the greatest capacity but the one that instills the greatest confidence in its citizens."