NATO summit host Turkey sees its alliance clout rising amid war raging nearby

Turkey, as host of the NATO summit in Ankara, expects national leaders to reaffirm the alliance's Article 5 collective defense principle, according to Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Güler described the July 7-8 gathering as a critical turning point for NATO to demonstrate its adaptation to the changing security environment, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in its fifth year and war in the Middle East. Turkish leaders see the country's strategic relevance for NATO rising amid shifting U.S. priorities in Europe and increasing demands on European defense capabilities. Güler stated that Turkey will continue to be a key actor in NATO and regional stability, highlighting the country's growing defense sector as an asset to showcase at the summit. However, analyst Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu noted that Turkey's clout risks running into political obstacles with the European Union, citing Turkey's exclusion from the SAFE program due to Greek and Cypriot vetoes. Megan Elizabeth Gisclon of the Istanbul Policy Center added that Turkey's military size and diplomatic ties with Middle Eastern nations and Russia make for a well-rounded contribution to NATO.