NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on allies to jointly increase defense industry production to strengthen the alliance's deterrence, adding that this would be a key topic at the July summit in Ankara. This is reported by Bloomberg, writes UNN.
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"Ensuring the security of one billion people in Europe and North America is not just a task for NATO and allied armed forces," Rutte said on Wednesday during a visit to Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS, Turkey's largest state-owned defense contractor. "Our industry also bears responsibility."
Rutte praised the alliance's political leaders for their commitment to increasing defense spending, adding: "but money alone, as I said, will not keep us safe."
"Air defense systems, drones, ammunition, radars, space capabilities - that's what will ensure our security."
NATO faces a wide range of threats - from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and from cyberspace to the seabed, Rutte added. "Russia's war against Ukraine continues, China's military modernization and expansion of its nuclear capabilities continue, and Iran spreads terror and chaos."
"Turkey's defense industry is already making a significant contribution," Rutte said before meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss preparations for the July NATO summit.
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Turkey, an increasingly important arms exporter, seeks to expand cooperation with NATO allies in areas such as missile defense and drones. Ankara also plans to hold meetings on the sidelines of the summit dedicated to the defense industry, with the aim of strengthening the alliance's deterrence.
Under Erdogan's rule, Turkey has intensified efforts to develop military aircraft, frigates, drones, and ballistic missiles, and has expanded its military presence from the Middle East to Africa. Aselsan plays a key role in these projects, particularly in the creation of the "Steel Dome" missile defense system, providing radars, sensors, and electronics for high-precision ammunition.
Turkey's plans to create a missile defense shield - modeled after Israel's "Iron Dome" - have gained greater urgency after NATO forces intercepted four missiles fired by Iran towards Turkey since the start of the war with Iran.
"NATO will always do whatever is necessary to protect Turkey and all allies," he concluded.