Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said the NATO Summit in Ankara would mark another turning point in the alliance's historical evolution, stressing that the changing global security environment requires NATO to reassess its threat perceptions and strategic priorities.

Duran made the remarks while addressing the "Allies in Ankara" programme, organized by the Directorate of Communications, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Summit.

He noted that the summit marks the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye after the 2004 Istanbul Summit.

'New threats require new approaches'

Duran said growing geopolitical rivalry, regional conflicts, technological transformation, hybrid threats and increasing pressure on the international order have reshaped the global security landscape.

"The Ankara Summit represents another turning point in NATO's historical evolution," he said, adding that collective defence must be redefined in a world where threats emerge from multiple directions and take many different forms.

He said the Russia–Ukraine war had exposed the changing nature of warfare and the vulnerabilities of Europe's security architecture, while developments involving Iran and the Gulf had once again highlighted the strategic importance of energy security and maritime routes.

'NATO's 360-degree security approach must be strengthened'

Duran stressed that instability in the Middle East has consequences far beyond the region and argued that NATO's eastern and southern flanks should be viewed as interconnected.

He said the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, Syria, Iraq, the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and the Sahel form part of the same security equation, emphasizing that security challenges require comprehensive political, military and non-military responses.

Türkiye's contribution to NATO

Highlighting Türkiye's role within the alliance, Duran said the country has remained a committed NATO member since 1952 and possesses the alliance's second-largest military.

He noted that Türkiye has actively contributed to crisis management, peace support, training and reconstruction missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iraq.

Duran also said Türkiye deployed around 2,000 personnel and domestically developed military equipment to NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, demonstrating its operational capabilities.

He added that Türkiye remains one of the few countries capable of maintaining dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Iran and the United States, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's diplomacy continuing to create opportunities for regional dialogue.

Defence industry and cybersecurity

Duran said Türkiye has built a strong national defence industry under President Erdoğan's leadership, noting that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has described the country's transformation as a "defence industry revolution."

He said Türkiye now contributes battle-tested military systems, air defence capabilities, artificial intelligence-supported technologies and high production capacity to the alliance. Defence spending has exceeded 2 percent of GDP, while defence and aerospace exports have surpassed $10 billion and the domestic production rate has reached 82 percent.

Duran concluded by warning that cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and artificial intelligence-driven manipulation have become integral components of today's security environment. He said cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the protection of critical infrastructure should be fully integrated into NATO's defence doctrine and expressed hope that the Ankara Summit would help bridge the gap between the alliance's strategic objectives and practical implementation. (ILKHA)