Ankara, 7 July 2026 — On the margins of the NATO Summit in Ankara, a series of public diplomacy events titled Allies in Ankara was held at Ankara Palas on July 7–8 under the auspices of the Republic of Türkiye Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and hosted by the Munich Security Conference and SETA. As part of this program, the Global Relations Forum (GRF), together with the European Policy Centre (EPC), organized a roundtable breakfast on the morning of July 7 titled The Strategic Hinge: Rethinking Türkiye’s Indispensable Role in Autonomous European Security.

The meeting opened with remarks by GRF Board Chair Zeynep Bodur Okyay. Speakers included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Ambassador Z. Levent Gümrükçü; Almut Möller, Director for European and Global Affairs at the European Policy Centre; Murad Bayar, GRF Board Member and former Undersecretary for Defense Industries; Brigadier General (Air Force, Ret.) Patrice Moyeuvre, Research Fellow at IRIS; Dr. Torrey Taussig, Director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council; and Ambassador (Ret.) Timur Söylemez, Chair of the GRF Executive Committee.

Moderated by GRF Board Member and journalist Barçın Yinanç, the meeting brought together nearly 60 participants, including Ankara-based ambassadors, representatives of think tanks and the international media, experts in diplomacy, defense, and security, as well as representatives of the private sector and academia.

The Changing Security Environment and NATO’s Transformation

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the meeting highlighted the profound transformation of Europe’s defense and security environment in recent years. Participants noted that, amid Russia’s war against Ukraine, continuing conflicts in the Middle East, and intensifying global geopolitical competition, the security agendas of Europe’s eastern and southern flanks could no longer be considered independently of one another.

Security was assessed as having evolved beyond purely military considerations into a comprehensive strategic framework encompassing energy security, critical infrastructure, maritime transportation routes, supply chains, technological and societal resilience, and economic security.

In this context, particular emphasis was placed on NATO’s ongoing transformation in response to the changing threat environment. Participants stated that greater European responsibility in defense had become a strategic necessity. While underscoring the importance of preserving the transatlantic security architecture, they stressed that strengthening Europe’s own defense capacity should serve as a complementary element that enhances the Alliance’s resilience.

Türkiye’s Strategic Position and Contribution to European Security

The meeting examined Türkiye’s role in European defense and security from multiple perspectives. Participants assessed Türkiye as a major actor in Europe’s security architecture not only because of its geostrategic location, but also because of its operational military capacity, strategic assets and capabilities, expanding defense industry, production capacity, and ability to maintain diplomatic channels with actors in crisis regions.

Türkiye’s contribution to NATO was also discussed under the headings of “cash, capabilities, and contributions,” with participants noting that Türkiye was among the few Allies meeting all three criteria. Its responsibilities within NATO, contributions to Alliance deterrence, and growing defense-industrial production capacity were considered strategically important in addressing Europe’s increasing defense and security needs.

Türkiye’s ability to maintain channels of communication with a range of regional actors was also highlighted as an important asset for crisis management and diplomatic flexibility in the evolving security environment.

Defense Industry and Industrial Cooperation

The roundtable examined opportunities for deeper defense-industrial cooperation between Türkiye and the EU. Participants stressed that Europe’s rapidly growing defense requirements could not be met through higher budgets alone. Production capacity, engineering expertise, technological development, innovation, and supply-chain resilience would also need to be strengthened.

Against this background, Türkiye’s defense-industrial infrastructure, engineering capacity, and experience in multinational projects compliant with NATO standards were regarded as offering significant—and potentially vital—value to the European defense ecosystem.

Participants noted that cooperation between the Turkish and European defense industries already existed in several areas, but needed to be placed on a more scalable and institutional footing.

Unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-UAV systems, maritime security, air and missile defense, ammunition production, joint production models, and technology sharing were identified as key areas in which cooperation could be expanded.

The importance of designing such partnerships on the basis of mutual benefit, reciprocity, and long-term trust was also emphasized.

NATO–EU Relations and an Inclusive Approach to Security

The European Union’s emerging initiatives in the security and defense fields were also discussed in detail. Participants recognized that Europe’s efforts to strengthen its defense capacity created important opportunities, but stressed that these efforts should support and complement NATO rather than compete with it.

In this context, participants argued that new European security mechanisms would remain insufficient if designed exclusively for EU member states. The more effective inclusion of non-EU NATO Allies such as Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and Norway in decision-making and implementation processes was considered strategically important.

Institutional barriers and political reservations, participants noted, should be addressed through more inclusive models of cooperation reflecting Europe’s shared security requirements.

Dialogue, Trust, and Europe’s Future

Participants emphasized that security cooperation could not be limited to military capacity and defense-industrial relations, but should also be supported by regular political engagement and institutionalized dialogue. A structured Türkiye–EU security and defense dialogue, beginning at the leadership level and extending to foreign affairs, defense, and other relevant security institutions, was identified as a possible means of strengthening mutual trust.

More inclusive decision-making mechanisms, greater defense-industrial integration, and regular consultation processes could contribute to the development of a shared strategic vision between Türkiye and Europe. Participants stressed that Europe’s evolving security challenges required common solutions and a multilateral approach to cooperation.

The discussion also underscored that diplomacy remained one of the most effective instruments available for preventing crises and managing conflicts, and should continue to form an integral part of security policymaking.