Politics · Turkey · 8 hrs ago
NATO deputy chief says Turkey is undergoing a defense industry transformation
NATO deputy chief Radmila Shekerinska praised Turkey’s growing defense industry at a security session in Brussels.
She said Turkey had been undergoing a major industrial transformation for some time, with examples of innovation in its defense sector.
European allies and Canada plan more than $250 billion in additional defense funding across 2025 and 2026, she said.
The NATO summit in Ankara also saw about $50 billion in defense contracts announced or signed, and production capacity rise by $38 billion.
NATO’s goal is to turn spending into needed military capabilities, including technology to counter drones and other threats.
Shekerinska said stronger production matters in long conflicts, while Russia is using attacks and other hybrid threats to try to weaken support for Ukraine.
NATO supports closer industry cooperation and says it will keep working on the alliance’s eastern flank, from the Arctic to the Black Sea.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said Turkey has been undergoing what she called an industrial revolution in its defense industry.
She made the remarks at a security session in Brussels during the Turkey-EU Business Summit.
She said European allies and Canada allocated more than $250 billion in additional defense funding in 2025 and 2026.
She said about $50 billion in defense contracts were announced and signed at the Ankara NATO Summit, alongside a $38 billion increase in production capacity.
She also discussed Russian hybrid threats, continued support for Ukraine and NATO’s focus on its eastern flank.
- Who
- NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska spoke alongside Turkey’s NATO ambassador, Basat Öztürk.
- What
- She said Turkey is undergoing a long-running transformation in its defense industry, describing it as an industrial revolution.
- When
- October 13, 2026. The Ankara NATO Summit was held on July 7-8, but the year is not stated.
- Where
- At a session in Brussels during the Turkey-EU Business Summit.
- Why
- She said the war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of defense technology and faster innovation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Defense-spending commitments were made, which Shekerinska said were later discussed in terms of turning them into concrete capabilities.
NATO held its summit in Ankara, where defense spending, contracts and cooperation were discussed.
Shekerinska spoke at a security session in Brussels during the Turkey-EU Business Summit.
- Speaker
- Radmila Shekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General
- Location
- Brussels
- Additional defense funding
- More than $250 billion from European allies and Canada in 2025 and 2026
- Contracts
- About $50 billion in defense contracts announced and signed at the Ankara Summit
- Production capacity
- $38 billion increase reported alongside contracts signed at the Ankara Summit
2 sources
What people are saying
In the Turkish defense industry, we have excellent examples. Because here, not only in the last few years but for longer, we are witnessing what is practically an industrial revolution.
This is why we say NATO will continue to remain calm, because we know that we are militarily superior, that we are stronger. We will continue on our path. This means continuing investments and preserving the technological superiority, the advantage we have.