President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the luncheon given in honor of NATO Parliamentary Speakers at Dolmabahçe Palace

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at a luncheon in honor of NATO Parliamentary Speakers at Dolmabahçe Palace.

“THE EURO-ATLANTIC SECURITY IS AT A HISTORIC TURNING POINT”

“The Euro-Atlantic security is at a historic turning point. Threats such as war, crisis, terrorism and irregular migration, particularly along the eastern and southeastern borders of our Alliance, necessitate a reshaping of our understanding of security. As old patterns and premises crumble one by one, it is still unknown what will replace them, what will supplant them. We are in the midst of a period of uncertainty where tension is escalating instead of stability, chaos instead of order, predictability is decreasing, and no one can know what they will face in the morning,” President Erdoğan said.

“MAINTAINING NATO'S DETERRENCE AND CONSOLIDATING SOLIDARITY AMONG ALLIES HAVE BECOME MORE CRITICAL”

“I would like to especially underline that the current definitions that describe the global system and politics have largely lost their meaning in today's world. The massacres we have witnessed recently, especially in Gaza and Lebanon, have inflicted deep wounds on the conscience of humanity while also severely undermining the credibility of international institutions and theories. I believe it's difficult to explain the current situation with old concepts without considering this dimension of the new era. In this environment, I believe both maintaining NATO's deterrence and consolidating solidarity among allies have become more critical,” President Erdoğan said.

“The current geopolitical equation has increased the importance of NATO’s role. As Türkiye, we are one of the countries that best grasps the spirit of the new era. Sharing a land border of over 1,800 kilometers with crisis regions, Türkiye, with its powerful military, modern military capabilities, and advanced defense industry, has been at the forefront of allies contributing to NATO's security for over 70 years. We actively take part in NATO missions and support the preservation of peace and stability. We share our exceptional ability to manage regional crises, as well as our extensive experience within NATO, with our allies,” President Erdoğan said.

“THE ANKARA SUMMIT WILL BE A POWERFUL PLATFORM FOR SHARING EXPERIENCES”

“The Ankara Summit will be the most powerful platform for sharing experiences. We are witnessing intense interest in the Ankara Summit not only among allies but also worldwide. As parliamentarians, you assume a very important responsibility: to guarantee the right to life, which is the most fundamental human right. What our people demand of us is to create the conditions that will ensure that future generations live in peace, prosperity, and tranquility. Our main expectation from the summit is that the outcomes will strengthen the solidarity and unity of the Alliance, taking into account the national security concerns of the allies. As the leader of a country that has successfully fought terrorism for many years and is now working to completely end it, I also would like to state that we have high expectations from the Alliance in this area. If we want to overcome the challenges we face, we need to ensure a balanced and fair sharing of burdens among allies, while also removing barriers to defense industry trade. With regard to both of these main topics, the implementation of the decisions we made at previous summits is extremely important. We are doing our part in terms of burden sharing, and we will continue to do so,” President Erdoğan said.

“WE ARE AMONG THE TOP FIVE ALLIES CONTRIBUTING THE MOST TO NATO MISSIONS AND OPERATIONS”

“Finally, in line with the commitments we made at the Hague Summit, we are increasing our defense spending and are among the top five allies contributing the most to NATO missions and operations. However, despite these contributions, it is also a fact that the indispensable benefits Türkiye provides to European security are sometimes overlooked. As one of the countries with a say in the development of the European pillar of the Alliance, we have the will to participate in all defense and security initiatives in the continent. We expect your close attention and support regarding Türkiye's inclusion in the defense and security initiatives announced by the European Union. Excluding Türkiye's capabilities in the sphere of defense due to shallow political interests benefits no one. At this point, we must create an unconditional security and defense network across the Alliance, stretching from Texas to Ankara,” President Erdoğan said.

“Another distinguishing feature of the Ankara Summit will be its emphasis on defense industry cooperation. At the NATO Defense Industry Forum, which we will organize within the framework of the Summit, we will showcase our advanced products while also discussing measures to make this cooperation even more effective. Our allies and guests will see the significant progress Türkiye has made in the field of defense industry in a short period of time,” President Erdoğan said.

“In line with NATO's 360-degree approach to security, we will assess global and regional developments, particularly in Ukraine, Iran, the Gulf, and Palestine. In this context, we will continue to provide the necessary contributions, together with Pakistan and Qatar, as well as other friendly and brotherly countries, to ensure that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran results in a lasting solution,” President Erdoğan said.

“AN INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN STATE OF PALESTINE MUST BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE 1967 BORDERS”

“We are closely monitoring the attacks, particularly those targeting Lebanon, which aim to undermine the agreement that has brought about a sigh of relief in our region and the world. We expect your support in preventing the provocations of this genocidal network, which cannot tolerate the stability of our region and even sees it as a threat to its own security. The Palestinian issue underlies the tensions in the Middle East. Unfortunately, lasting peace in our region cannot be achieved without an end to the occupation and Israel's continuous land grab. The gateway to lasting peace is the two-state solution. An independent, sovereign State of Palestine with territorial integrity must be established within the 1967 borders. You, as parliamentarians, also have significant roles to play in this process,” President Erdoğan said.

“With its history, social structure, and geostrategic location, Türkiye is a powerful country with the experience to simultaneously communicate with a vast geography stretching from Europe to Asia and from the Balkans to Africa. We wish to utilize this potential to the maximum extent for regional and global peace. I would like to particularly emphasize that we must achieve results in the coming period regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war through dialogue. As an ally that can speak with both sides, initiates fruitful processes, and has earned the trust of both sides through its fair stance, we will continue to actively contribute to peace efforts,” President Erdoğan said.