08.07.2026 17:30
Esra Öztürk, President of the Nordic Baltic Institute, who closely followed the historic NATO Summit in Ankara, made exclusive statements to Haberler.com. Drawing attention to Turkey's global power in the defense industry and its success in UAV technology, Öztürk addressed tensions in transatlantic relations. "The eyes of the Baltic countries under the Russian threat are on Turkey," said Öztürk, emphasizing that Ankara's military power is critical for Europe's security.
Esra Öztürk, Founding President of the Nordic Baltic Institute, who followed the historic NATO Summit held in Ankara on-site, evaluated the course of the summit and the strategic balances in the region. Öztürk, who stands out as the head of the institute, which is the first and only think tank focusing on the Nordic and Baltic regions, answered questions from Haberler.com, drawing attention to Turkey's increasing military and logistical role in light of global developments.
"THE ANKARA SUMMIT HAS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE IN MANY ASPECTS"
Stating that they established high-level diplomatic contacts ranging from heads of state to defense ministers and large delegations within the scope of the summit, Esra Öztürk explained why this year's meeting is described as "historic" with the following words:
"One of the most important reasons why this summit is considered historic is Turkey's gradually increasing weight and importance within NATO. In this rise, besides Turkey's equipment and military capacity, the tremendous progress it has made, especially in the defense industry, plays a key role."
GREENLAND TENSION BETWEEN AMERICA AND EUROPE CONTINUES
Öztürk emphasized that the effects of the diplomatic crisis that began in previous years with the USA's offer to purchase Greenland, an autonomous region under the Kingdom of Denmark, have not yet fully subsided, and touched upon the fragility in transatlantic relations:
"That tension between America and Europe has actually not completely subsided behind the scenes. Diplomatic contacts between Denmark and the USA over Greenland are ongoing. However, Europe is on alert against the possibility of relations with America deteriorating at any moment. Although these summits emphasize increasing NATO's deterrence and taking cooperation to the highest level, Europe is trying to take independent measures to ensure its own security."
TURKEY'S SİHA AND AIR DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES ASSURANCE TO EUROPE
Stating that according to the general opinion of European experts, the continent would be insufficient on its own to ensure its security with an isolated defense ecosystem, Öztürk stated that Turkey is a strategic savior at this point:
"Turkey stands out with its drone and SİHA technology, increased range in air defense systems, and defense projects successfully tested in the field. The Turkish defense industry has proven to be an 'indispensable' element for Europe's security and deterrence. In this regard, holding the NATO Summit in Ankara holds great value."
BALTIC COUNTRIES UNDER RUSSIAN THREAT HAVE THEIR EYES ON TURKEY
Reminding that the Russia-Ukraine War, which started in 2022, has reached a much deeper dimension with the bombing of Kyiv, Esra Öztürk said that the Baltic countries, which gained their freedom after escaping Soviet occupation, wake up every morning with great security concerns. Expressing that countries such as Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which have limited populations and military capacity, as well as Poland, are eager to cooperate with Turkey, Öztürk concluded her words as follows:
"Baltic countries constantly feel alert and anxious. Therefore, they see cooperation with Turkey as a necessity. In recent years, we have observed that our trade in air defense and unmanned aerial vehicles, i.e., technological know-how transfer, to these countries is rapidly increasing. Moreover, unlike countries like France, Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration, or occasionally Germany, which constantly obstruct Turkey during its EU candidacy process, Northern European and Baltic countries have always been much more supportive toward Turkey. Turkey continues to empower its allies by increasing its presence and defense support in this critical region. We offered the dishes from every part of Turkey to our guests here," she concluded her speech.