By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte held a press conference in Ankara on Monday afternoon, July 6, one day before the NATO Summit to underscore how crucial global defense security is and how European allies have stepped up to meet spending challenges in that arena. Rutte stressed the primary focus of the 36th NATO Summit in Turkiye will be defense and that billions of dollars in new defense contracts will be signed. With regard to the Turkish role in NATO’s defense, Rutte said that Turkiye is “very important” for NATO,” especially since it has the largest armed force in NATO,” adding “NATO is very much profiting from what Turkiye is doing in the defense industry.” The NATO chief acknowledged Turkish expansion in the defense industry, mentioning ASELSAN – that firm and four other Turkish defense companies are being considered for new defense contracts with European allies. Rutte emphasized the crucial Turkish connection when he said: “Your place on the map is important, your leadership is important and the fact that you planned the NATO Summit is important.” Rutte reiterated that defense security is paramount in a new geopolitical order – especially with the threat from Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
As Rutte said: “We are investing in our own security to ensure we safeguard our own societies for today and tomorrow,” adding “All allies need to pull their weight…because Ukraine’s security is so closely linked with our own.” The NATO chief said the plan is to “continue our robust support for Ukraine, reminding President Putin, we are firm in our commitment.” Rutte credited U.S. President Donald Trump with what he termed as NATO’s “transformation” since it was Trump, he emphasized, who was “forceful in encouraging us to do this,” referring to European allies stepping up their defense spending from a previous two percent to five percent of their GDP. The NATO chief added: “You could argue that he is the first president since Eisenhower who was able to come to this situation, where the Europeans will spend the same as the Americans,” adding that European countries have spent a “staggering amount” on defense. The NATO chief also praised the current NATO, saying that “What you are seeing, is a NATO that is changing in a transformational sense, just three or five years ago, the NATO we had was not sustainable.” Rutte added: “We are rebalancing as NATO,” for “a stronger European role…creating an alliance that is sustainable, we are taking more responsibility in Europe.”
A crucial part of the future defense strategy, according to Rutte, includes “Ensuring innovation is front and center,” “cutting red tape,” and “that our industries from Arkansas to Ankara, combine their strengths and step up supply.” The NATO secretary general added: “This will help grow our economies, spread innovation and create hundreds of thousands of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.” On Ukraine, Rutte remarked: “Ukraine is changing the dynamics on the battlefield but they need our continued support, especially in the air force. Allies and NATO partners must contribute to Ukraine. Rutte also said: “When it comes to nuclear, we are in a really good place,” with partnerships on nuclear with the UK, France and the U.S. On addressing NATO unity, Rutte explained that in the NATO alliance, there will always be issues that need to be resolved but that “It is important that all allies work together without any barriers.” Rutte reiterated: “I really believe when it comes to the EU, Canada, the U.S. – we have only one goal, to work together against threats and terrorism.” The NATO chief added that nothing is more important than unity among allies: “Together, we represent nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy and we are coming together because we know cooperation is key.”
