At the recent Nato summit held in Ankara, Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership emerged as a pivotal player in the alliance amid ongoing challenges to transatlantic security. Erdoğan, hosting the summit, highlighted Turkey’s growing military capabilities and strategic significance, reinforcing its role in Nato’s southern flank and broader geopolitical landscape.
US President Donald Trump publicly praised Erdoğan, describing him as a “strong leader” and a close ally. Trump indicated a willingness to lift American sanctions on Turkey, citing Ankara’s contributions in the region and its cooperation with the United States. He contrasted Turkey's loyalty to Nato with what he portrayed as a lack of commitment from other alliance members, reiterating his demand for European nations to increase their defense spending independently. This display of support for Erdoğan stood in marked contrast to Trump’s more critical and dismissive remarks about other European leaders attending the summit.
Turkey’s military advancements include spending approximately $30 billion on defense last year and achieving 80% self-sufficiency in military production. The country has become a growing arms exporter, notably supplying drones used in the conflict in Ukraine. Erdoğan pledged to provide further military assistance to Kyiv during the summit, underscoring Turkey’s active role in the ongoing war.
The summit also showcased Erdoğan’s diplomatic acumen. Turkey, with the second-largest military in Nato after the United States, has engaged in various regional conflicts, often on opposing sides to Russia, including in Libya and Syria. Ankara has been a key mediator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and holds significant influence in Middle Eastern affairs. Erdoğan’s outreach includes improved relations with both Russia and Iran, as well as a renewed push for Turkey’s membership in the European Union. During his opening address, Erdoğan cautioned the EU against excluding non-member allies like Turkey from European defense plans, warning this could undermine transatlantic security.
While Turkey's enhanced role in Nato was largely welcomed by many alliance members, some voices expressed concern. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly lobbied against a proposed F-35 fighter jet deal, fearing it could upset the balance of power in the Middle East, a move Erdoğan dismissed confidently. Further, Erdoğan’s association with Trump and his increasing influence within Nato raised unease among some US and European officials.
Human rights issues in Turkey, including the imprisonment of opposition figures such as Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and numerous arrests preceding the summit, received limited attention from European partners, who were more focused on countering the growing threat from Russia. Some Western officials, including a Finnish lawmaker and Latvian diplomats, minimized these concerns, emphasizing the critical importance of Turkey’s strategic role within Nato.
Analysts noted that Erdoğan’s deft handling of Trump and the broader alliance dynamics has helped temper uncertainties about the future of US leadership in Nato. With Turkey now central to the alliance’s operational and diplomatic efforts in the region, its influence continues to grow even as debates over defense commitments and human rights persist among its allies.