Amid tensions between Europe and the United States, Turkey is increasingly claiming the role of a country capable of filling the political and defense vacuum emerging inside NATO. According to Bloomberg, the upcoming alliance summit in Ankara on July 7–8 may become a platform for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to demonstrate his country’s importance to the bloc.
Not long ago, the agency notes, Erdogan was viewed within NATO as a «black sheep» because of his opposition to Sweden’s accession to the alliance. Now the situation has changed: according to diplomats, the image of a strong leader respected by U. S. President Donald Trump potentially makes the Turkish president a figure capable of keeping the summit on track. This is especially important against the backdrop of many European leaders being in conflict with the head of the White House.
Ankara’s importance is growing not only politically, but also in the defense sphere. Turkey has become a major supplier of military equipment to Europe, which is increasing its armaments because of the conflict in Ukraine and pressure from Trump. According to Bloomberg, last year about 56% of Turkish arms exports went to the United States, Europe and other Western allies.
Trump’s attitude toward Erdogan has already become one of the factors surrounding the upcoming summit. On June 24, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, the U.S. president said he had agreed to travel to Ankara solely out of respect for the Turkish leader, whom he called a very good friend.
At the same time, relations between the United States and its NATO allies remain tense. Last year, Rutte persuaded European countries to increase defense spending, as Trump had demanded. Later, however, the U.S. president accused alliance partners of giving Washington insufficient support in the war with Iran and threatened to leave the bloc.
To win Trump over, NATO is preparing to announce a number of major defense deals at the Ankara summit, according to Bloomberg sources. The agency’s interlocutors said Rutte had urged allies to postpone announcements of any such agreements until the leaders' meeting.
Against the backdrop of reduced support from Washington, Bloomberg notes, the main issue for NATO is no longer whether Europeans are prepared to spend more on defense. The key problem is Europe’s ability to expand its industrial capacity and its own defense capabilities.
It is in this situation that Turkey is seeking to strengthen its role. Ankara is looking to use the gap that has emerged in relations between Europe and the United States, while also pursuing new defense agreements. In addition, in May Turkey proposed a $1.2 billion pipeline project intended to supply fuel to NATO allies on the eastern flank.