Ankara: Trkiye's defense industry was highlighted as a key contributor to NATO's deterrence, production, and interoperability goals during a panel held as part of the 36th NATO Summit of Leaders in Ankara.

According to Anadolu Agency, the panel, titled 'Trkiye's Defense Industry as a Building Block of NATO's Defense Architecture,' was held Wednesday at Ankara Palas as part of the 'Allies in Ankara' event. This event was organized in cooperation with Trkiye's Communications Directorate, the Munich Security Conference, and the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA).

Participants at the panel discussed the capacity of Trkiye's defense sector and its role in supporting NATO's efforts to strengthen military production, reinforce deterrence, and deepen interoperability among allied forces. Roketsan CEO Murat Ikinci emphasized the importance of the NATO summit in shaping the alliance's future defense and deterrence strategy. He highlighted that Trkiye's defense industry stands out for its technological capabilities and strong supply chain, consisting of more than 3,500 suppliers, with Roketsan collaborating with over 2,000 companies to provide advanced defense solutions. Additionally, Ikinci noted that Roketsan exports its products to more than 50 countries.

Ahmet Akyol, CEO of Aselsan, pointed out that while NATO allies have made commitments to increase defense spending, the primary challenge lies in converting these budgets into tangible military capabilities quickly. He mentioned that the war in Ukraine has altered the strategic outlook in the defense industry, demonstrating that technological excellence alone is insufficient. Akyol emphasized that Trkiye stands out in the new security environment with its production capacity, dynamic defense ecosystem, and broad industrial infrastructure. He also highlighted Aselsan's contribution to NATO through its work in allied countries.