EditRutte courts Turkey to integrate defence industry with EU and NATO allies
Ankara's rising military capacity stands in contrast to years of underinvestment in defence by many EU countries
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on Turkey to more closely integrate its substantial defence industry with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Norway, warning that fragmentation within the Alliance would be counterproductive.
“Turkey has a very large defence industrial base,” Rutte said during a public Q&A event in The Hague ahead of the NATO summit. “I visited some of their companies and it’s truly impressive.”
“We must ensure that the Turkish defence industry is as closely connected as possible with the UK, Norway and the EU. We cannot allow barriers to rise within NATO – that would not help,” Rutte stressed.
Turkey’s strategic relevance to both the EU and NATO has grown in recent years amid the war in Ukraine, heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, and shifting positions in Washington regarding NATO commitments under the administration of Donald Trump.
also The key objective of the NATO summit will be to address increased defence spending, with U.S. President Donald Trump pressing allies to commit 5% of their GDP, a demand NATO hopes to accommodate in part to keep Washington aligned with collective defence obligations.
While relations between Ankara and Brussels remain complex, EU policymakers increasingly see Turkey as an indispensable partner. It plays a central role in limiting illegal migration and has a crucial role to security in the Black Sea region.
With over 350,000 active military personnel, Turkey has the second-largest army in NATO and an increasingly advanced domestic defence industry. It is also pursuing an ambitious plan to develop a fully indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, following its exclusion from the US-led F-35 programme.
Its rising military capacity stands in contrast to years of underinvestment in defence by many EU countries, which are now struggling to close capability gaps with US, Russia and Ukraine . This divergence gives Ankara additional leverage, particularly as the US re-evaluates its role in European security.
Despite continued EU concerns over rule of law and human rights, European leaders increasingly prioritise pragmatic cooperation with Ankara. Access to EU defence initiatives remains limited, but discussions on closer coordination are ongoing.
Recent months have seen a notable uptick in high-level contacts between the European Union and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pointing to a pragmatic recalibration of relations amid shifting geopolitical realities.
At a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the Israel-Iran conflict raising global alarm, Turkey has emerged as an important player in advocating for diplomatic mediation to prevent further escalation and spillover.
Deciphering Turkey’s efforts in seeking de-escalation in the Israel-Iran clash
In December 2024, Erdoğan met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Ankara and discussed cooperation on an “inclusive administration in Syria” and the return of Syrians to their homeland, urging EU support.
In his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, Erdogan stated that he wanted to open a new page in EU-Turkey relations, speaking for updated customs union and visa liberalisation negotiations should be resumed. He announced that they expected a EU-Turkey summit to be held as soon as possible.
Later, in the wake of the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and subsequent civil protests, Von der Leyen said that Turkey would need to maintain its democratic values to avoid potentially losing its European Union candidate country status, stating that the EU wished to stay closely tied to Turkey.
Turkey is expected to press its European partners to loosen procurement rules that currently require most increased military to remain within the EU. Ankara is likely to use its strategic importance to seek concessions as it did during the accession processes of Finland and Sweden to NATO.
Caption: A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Mark Rutte (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands during a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey 26 April 2024. Rutte was Dutch Prime Minister back then.
Updated: June 25, 2025 - 05:52
