Antalya: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Wednesday that NATO's core values are under threat. "The core values of peace and stability that our alliance defends are under unprecedented threat in places like Ukraine and Gaza," Fidan said during his opening speech at a dinner in honor of the foreign ministers visiting the Turkish Mediterranean resort city of Antalya for an informal NATO meeting.

According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan described NATO as 'the most successful alliance in human history,' emphasizing that its power stems not only from its military responsibilities but also from representing a community of shared values, principles, and ideas. He stated that hybrid challenges and terrorism pose serious dangers to democracies, and highlighted unity and solidarity as critical assets in facing these challenges.

Fidan pointed out that Thursday's meeting would involve intensive talks ahead of the Hague Summit in June, underscoring the importance of these discussions. He expressed the hope that the dinner would provide an opportunity for informal exchanges of ideas in a more relaxed setting.

Reflecting on history, Fidan noted humanity's progress since the founding of the city of Side in the 7th century BC, while emphasizing the continued relevance of peace through collective power and cooperation united by shared values. He urged allied countries to remain united in ultimate goals and commitments despite differences and to combine unity with capabilities that support the Alliance's will and commitments in an effective and inclusive manner.

Fidan outlined key areas such as fair transatlantic burden-sharing, limitless defense industry cooperation among allies, and investing in future collective defense through innovation. He acknowledged the need for governments to make tough and bold decisions in a world with urgent responsibilities and noted the reluctance in many allied countries to act according to evolving security requirements.

He concluded by stating that it is the alliance's duty to clearly communicate the magnitude of threats without causing alarm, and to explain the necessary steps to overcome these challenges while reassuring people that they are not alone in this process.