Ankara: Defense industry experts and officials on Tuesday called for deeper transatlantic cooperation, greater interoperability, and stronger industrial partnerships among NATO allies during a panel held alongside the alliance's summit in Ankara. The discussion on "Transatlantic Defense Industry Cooperation" was organized as part of the NATO Summit Dialogues by the Turkish Atlantic Council and the Center for Foreign Policy and Security Research and hosted by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD).
According to Anadolu Agency, Fabrizio W. Luciolli, who researches international security organizations at the Italian Defense Ministry's Center for Higher Defense Studies, emphasized the necessity for allied forces to be equipped, supplied, and supported together. He highlighted the defense cooperation between Italy and Trkiye as an exemplary model of combining industrial expertise, financing, and technological capabilities. Luciolli also advocated for governments to provide predictable policies that would enable defense industries to expand production capacity and underscored NATO's role as the central hub of coherent cooperation among allied industries.
Bulgarian venture capital researcher Dimitar Dimitrov pointed out the importance of integrating satellite imagery, naval assets, sensors, and other technologies for countries bordering the Black Sea to enhance collective defense. Dimitrov stressed the need for resources from Italy, Trkiye, and Bulgaria to be coordinated and interoperable, allowing for seamless operation as a single team. He also highlighted the significance of better connecting civilian and military infrastructure and advocated for future artificial intelligence systems to support cross-border cooperation. Dimitrov called for closer collaboration between Trkiye and Bulgaria at the government level to strengthen European defense through resilience and interoperability.
Levent Gulcan, general manager of Turkish defense manufacturer Yakupoglu (YDS), underscored the necessity of designing military equipment for varied operational environments. He noted that the Turkish army's operations across different climates and terrains require the industry to continually adapt, innovate, and enhance its products. Gulcan also emphasized that cooperation among suppliers from diverse NATO countries enables allies to leverage each other's operational experience and technological expertise.