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Türkiye plays a "vital role" in Black Sea security and is among the world's leading defense industrial suppliers as NATO reinforces collective defense amid Russia's war on Ukraine, a NATO official told Türkiye Today exclusively.
The official emphasized the Black Sea's critical significance to the Alliance and Türkiye's central position in securing it.
"Russia's war against Ukraine poses substantial risks to the security and the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to NATO," the official said.
"Türkiye plays a vital role in Black Sea security, including through its Montreux Convention role and a dedicated countermine naval group with Bulgaria and Romania to increase the safety of navigation in the Black Sea," the official added, referring to the trilateral mine countermeasures group, MCM Black Sea, established in 2024.
The official highlighted Türkiye's place among NATO's top defense suppliers.
"As NATO reinforces its collective defence, our relationship with industry has become more important than ever. NATO is home to the world's leading defence industrial suppliers, including those from Türkiye," the official said.
"At the NATO Summit in The Hague, all Allies committed to investing more defence, including investing more in our defence industrial base, improving innovation, and ensuring we have the stockpile reserves to support our security," the official noted.
"Faced with global challenges, it is vital that Allied defence industries cooperate across both sides of the Atlantic," the official added.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, speaking after the Defense Ministers' meeting, said the Alliance is undergoing a "mindset transformation" with European members taking greater leadership responsibilities.
"We need a strong NATO, but NATO becomes stronger when Europeans take on more leadership roles. That is exactly what they are doing," Rutte said.
"This allows the U.S. to also deal with some other issues it needs to address, like the Asia-Pacific, like the Western Hemisphere. It also maintains a strong nuclear and conventional presence in Europe," he added.
Rutte noted that Europe — including Türkiye, Norway, the UK and non-EU countries — is "one of the largest and richest regions in the world."
"I think we are in a much better position today than we were one or two years ago," he noted.
Addressing questions about U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's absence, Rutte emphasized Washington's continued commitment, with Undersecretary Elbridge Colby leading the American delegation.
"The U.S. is totally invested in NATO. They are anchored into NATO. There is no doubt about that," Rutte stated.
On U.S.-led peace talks regarding Ukraine, Rutte said "90-95%" of security guarantees have been addressed.
General Ingo Gerhartz, Commander of NATO's Joint Force Command (JFC) in the Netherlands, praised the Turkish Armed Forces' (TAF) contribution to Steadfast Dart 26, NATO's largest exercise this year.
"Türkiye's contribution cannot be emphasized enough," Gerhartz told BBC Turkish, noting that with approximately 2,000 personnel, the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu and accompanying task force, Türkiye provided "by far the largest contribution."
The exercise, running from January through March in Germany, involves approximately 10,000 troops from 10 European countries, over 1,500 military vehicles and 17 ships.
Turkish forces traveled approximately 6,450 kilometers from Türkiye's borders to Germany. Türkiye assumed command of the Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force within NATO's Allied Reaction Force on July 1, 2025.
NATO announced that the year's first focused operation under Operation Sea Guardian was successfully completed under Turkish command from Jan. 21 to Feb. 9.
The operation, commanded by the Turkish Navy frigate TCG Gaziantep, enhanced maritime situational awareness, strengthened deterrence and improved cooperation among allies and partners.
Submarines from Greece, Italy and Türkiye participated, along with air assets from Greece, Türkiye and the United States, flying over 50 hours during the operation.
At NATO's Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) headquarters in Izmir, Türkiye, corps commanders met Jan. 29-30 to discuss operationalizing NATO's integrated defense plans.
U.S. Army General Christopher T. Donahue, Commander of NATO Allied Land Command, said: "2026 is the year of execution for land forces."
Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich added, "Here at LANDCOM, ground deterrence relies on you. This is LANDCOM's year of execution."
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