The Turkish Defence Minister said Türkiye expects a reaffirmation of Article 5 commitments at the Ankara NATO Summit.
The Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, said that Türkiye expects Allies to reaffirm solidarity and unity within the Alliance, as well as their commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, at the 2026 NATO Summit to be held in Ankara on 7 and 8 July 2026. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one or more member states shall be considered an attack against all Allies.
“Our objective at this Summit will be to underline the Alliance’s unity and solidarity, as well as NATO’s determination to protect the Euro-Atlantic area against today’s threats and challenges. To build a multidimensional security architecture for NATO’s future, our primary expectation from the Ankara Summit is for Allies to reaffirm their commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty,” Yaşar Güler said.
Güler attended a meeting organised by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications of the Republic of Türkiye and the SETA Foundation as part of preparations for hosting the NATO Summit in July. The forum brought together politicians, diplomats and academics working in the fields of diplomacy and security in the Turkish capital.
Yaşar Güler stressed that Türkiye also expects Allies to demonstrate the progress they have made in fulfilling their commitments regarding increased defence spending and the enhancement of defence capabilities.
“In addition, we hope that the European Union will abandon its exclusionary approach towards Türkiye and other non-EU NATO Allies in the field of security and return to a position that supports NATO,” Güler said, adding that Türkiye could contribute to Europe’s security through its defence industry.
Yaşar Güler also assessed Türkiye’s role in maintaining regional stability against the backdrop of rising tensions and conflicts.
"In this process, Türkiye believes that crises should be managed rather than allowing tensions to escalate and conflicts to deepen. Despite being surrounded by a ring of fire, our country strives to remain an island of stability and a hub of security while making great efforts to end conflicts through diplomacy,” the Turkish Minister of National Defence said.
Regarding Türkiye’s position within NATO, Yaşar Güler underlined that sovereignty, security and adherence to international law constitute fundamental principles.
“Türkiye’s critical role within NATO is based on a balanced and principled strategic approach that enables us both to fulfil our Allied responsibilities and to make independent decisions. This approach provides us with the opportunity to safeguard our national interests while effectively carrying out our defence obligations,” Güler said.
Güler also stated that Türkiye would continue working together with its Allies and contributing to a shared long-term vision for security.