NATO Deputy Secretary General Shekerinska calls Türkiye an invaluable ally
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska described Türkiye as an "invaluable ally" for the alliance during her contacts in Ankara. She emphasised the importance of Türkiye's deterrence contribution on the southern flank and its defence industry capacity.
During her contacts in Ankara, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said Türkiye is an "invaluable ally" for the alliance thanks to its strategic location, troop strength and growing defence industry capacity. Shekerinska emphasised that Türkiye plays a central role in the security architecture across the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Near East corridor.
The Deputy Secretary General arrived in Ankara as part of a programme to visit all member capitals ahead of the alliance's autumn 2026 summit in The Hague. Talks covered support for Ukraine, ongoing debate over raising defence spending targets from 2 to 3 percent of GDP, and the implications of the Iran war for NATO's southern flank. Türkiye's participation in EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects as an observer was also discussed.
The development of the Turkish defence industry in recent years, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicles and missile systems, is regarded inside NATO as an important supply capacity. Sources at the Turkish presidency said the talks took place in a constructive atmosphere. According to NATO's official statement, Shekerinska also praised Türkiye's recent contribution to intelligence sharing in the Black Sea.
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