Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged NATO allies to remove restrictions on the Turkish defence industry during a summit in Ankara on July 8, 2026 [2].
The request signals Turkey's ambition to expand its military-industrial complex while aligning its spending with the alliance's long-term security goals. This move comes as Ankara seeks greater autonomy in its defence procurement and production.
During the summit, Erdoğan announced a $24 billion investment in the "Steel Dome" air-defence project [1]. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive layered defence system to protect Turkish airspace. The president said the investment is a critical step in enhancing national and regional security.
Turkey also reaffirmed its commitment to meet a NATO defence-spending target of five percent of its GDP by 2030 [1]. This target represents a significant financial commitment to military modernization, and readiness within the alliance.
Beyond military spending, Erdoğan addressed diplomatic relations in the Middle East. He praised U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to pursue peace with Iran [1]. The Turkish leader said that diplomatic breakthroughs in the region would contribute to overall global stability.
Erdoğan concluded his remarks by calling for alliance-wide solidarity against terrorism [1]. He said that the fight against terror requires a unified approach from all NATO members to be effective.
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged NATO allies to remove restrictions on the Turkish defence industry.”
Turkey is attempting to pivot from being a primary consumer of NATO military hardware to a major producer and exporter. By linking a massive increase in GDP-based spending to the removal of industry restrictions, Ankara is leveraging its financial commitment to gain more strategic autonomy and industrial growth.
