The Turkish President said the Alliance should be anchored on fair burden-sharing. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference regarding the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
Erdoğan made the following remarks:
"We have successfully completed the NATO Summit, which our country has hosted for the second time following a 22-year hiatus and which our capital city has hosted for the first time.
This historic summit, which we hosted at a time when Euro-Atlantic security is being tested, has been organised in such a way as to shape our shared future.
Today, in terms of defence spending, military capabilities and our defence industry that underpins them, we are far ahead of many Allies.
All NATO allies participated in the Ankara Summit at the leaders' level. We view this as fresh proof of the confidence placed in Türkiye, as well as the respectability of our diplomacy.
In Ankara, we have laid the groundwork for a NATO whereby the European allies will assume greater responsibility and our military capabilities will be strengthened through fair burden-sharing.
We currently command NATO’s second-largest land army. For decades, the security of NATO’s southeastern flank has largely been entrusted to our country.
Türkiye is one of the few Allies that produces its own fighter aircraft, tanks, and ships and develops its own air defence systems. We also contributed our military experience to NATO.
By becoming a member of NATO, we brought to the Alliance not only our geostrategic position but also our art of warfare, forged over two thousand years on the battlefield.
We have always been an Ally that has fulfilled its responsibilities within the Alliance with distinction, shared the burden, and, when necessary, paid the price.
Our cherished Turkish Armed Forces possess the strength and capability to eliminate any threat to our national security at its source.
Türkiye stands ready to assume greater responsibility for fair burden-sharing in this new era, when the Alliance once again is placing collective defence at the centre of its policy."
--On the European Union's Defence Initiatives--
"The EU's defence initiatives should complement NATO and not lead to unnecessary duplication.
I must underline once again that NATO must be an Alliance not of countries dependent on one another but of Allies that strengthen one another.
Among Allies, the restrictions on trade in defence industry products still persist. These restrictions must be removed as soon as possible."
--On the Russia-Ukraine War--
"There are no losers in a fair peace. I reiterate that we stand ready to bring the parties together once again in Türkiye."
--On Israel's Actions in the Region--
"Those who believe their security depends on instability in the region seek to extinguish even the slightest glimmer of peace.
Our region can no longer withstand either a new escalation or a new conflict. As humanity, we all need peace, tranquillity, and stability as much as we need air and water."
--On F-35 Procurement--
"Neither of the two statements has a place in my world. For it is clear in which waters Netanyahu swims. However, Mitsotakis should not have fallen into such an error.
President Trump has a favourable attitude towards Türkiye. When the F-35s are delivered to Türkiye, the whole world will say, 'The US kept its promise.'"
--On the "Steel Dome" Project--
"The Steel Dome project is NATO’s strongest hand in the region. If others have different domes, we also have our Steel Dome."
--On the Dispute in the Aegean Sea--
"I fully concur with Mitsotakis that problems, particularly in the Aegean Sea, should be resolved. I should say it openly and clearly that resolving this maritime issue is primarily incumbent on the leaders."
--On the Procurement of F110 Engines for KAAN--
"I had discussed this issue with President Trump before. He took a positive approach. Hopefully, there will not be any problems."
--On the Leaders Being Welcomed by the Mehter Band--
"Everyone spoke about it with admiration. As we shook hands, they said, 'It was magnificent.' Some even remarked, 'We know your Janissaries.'"
--On the Strait of Hormuz--
"As Türkiye, we are doing everything we can regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and will continue to do so. We wish to avoid the sea becoming another theatre of war.
The 'Blue Homeland' doctrine is crucial for us. We will continue to encompass under this concept not only our seas but also both our inland waters and our territorial waters."