Turkish President Calls for NATO Defense Network From Texas to Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday demanded the full inclusion of Türkiye in all European defense and security structures during an address to parliamentary delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul.

The statement comes one week ahead of a key alliance summit scheduled to take place in Ankara.

European Defense Integration

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye expects lawmakers to support its integration into defense initiatives announced by the European Union.

He stated that Ankara wants to participate in all security initiatives on the continent as a country with a significant say in developing the alliance's European pillar.

“Despite our contributions, it is also a fact that in some cases the indispensable benefits Türkiye provides to European security are overlooked,” Erdogan said.

“Excluding the capacity Türkiye possesses in the defense field due to narrow political interests is of no benefit to anyone,” he noted.

The Turkish president also called for the formation of an unyielding alliance network extending from Texas to Ankara.

“We must form, across the alliance, a security and defense network extending from Texas to Ankara, without any ifs or buts,” he said.

“We need to remove the obstacles in front of the defense industry trade,” he added.

NATO Contributions and Capabilities

Erdogan highlighted Türkiye's more than 70-year history as a leading contributor to NATO security.

He noted that the nation actively participates in missions to preserve peace and stability through its strong armed forces, modern military capabilities, and advanced defense industry.

The president added that Türkiye shares its extensive institutional experience and its capacity to manage regional crises directly with its allies.

Regional Instability and Middle East Conflict

Addressing broader geopolitical challenges, Erdogan stated that Ankara is closely monitoring strikes targeting Lebanon.

He warned that these attacks seek to undermine recent regional stabilization agreements and requested delegate support to counter these provocations.

Erdogan explicitly identified the Palestinian issue as the root cause of wider Middle East tensions.

He noted that lasting peace remains unachievable while the occupation and Israeli land appropriation persist, calling instead for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.