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NATO Military Committee Chair Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said Türkiye plays a central role in the alliance through its military capacity, defense industry and strategic position, ahead of the NATO leaders' summit in Ankara on July 7-8.
Speaking to Anadolu at NATO headquarters in Brussels before the 36th NATO Summit, hosted by Türkiye, Cavo Dragone described Türkiye as a strong and strategic ally.
"Türkiye is a strong ally. It has the second-largest army in the alliance, and of course this is a strength, but its geographical position is also extremely important," he said. "It is located right at the center of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Middle East."
He said Türkiye already carries out a very important mission for NATO both geographically and militarily.
Cavo Dragone, who took office in January 2025, said his first impression was that NATO had become a "strong and healthy" alliance, adding that he had confirmed that view after 1.5 years.
"Today I can say that we are now moving forward. At that time, we were waking up; now we are standing and walking," he said. "Of course, we can discuss the level of our speed, but it is clear that we are moving in the right direction."
He said all allies are aware of the threats facing NATO, which is why they made commitments at last year's Hague Summit to increase defense investment.
"Now, along with these commitments, we hope to see them implemented," Cavo Dragone said. "Have we reached the target? No. There is much more we need to do, but I believe we are moving in the right direction."
He said NATO is stronger and more determined today, adding that this is the kind of alliance current conditions require.
Cavo Dragone said that from a military perspective, concrete steps matter more than declarations at the Ankara Summit.
"Declarations are simple. What we need are concrete effects and results on the ground," he said.
He said the main military expectation is the fulfillment of commitments made at the Hague Summit.
"There were promises made at the Hague Summit. Now they need to be implemented," he said, adding that it would not be realistic to expect everything to be completed within one year.
He said real steps are needed to show that ideas and statements are turning into concrete results.
Cavo Dragone also said he expects a stronger commitment to Ukraine and continued determination to stand by Kyiv for as long as needed. He said he also expects the defense industry to maintain and make the best use of its current positive momentum.
Addressing the U.S. reduction of military contributions in Europe, Cavo Dragone said he believes Europe can fill the gap.
He said the imbalance had already been clear a year ago and that NATO had been working to reshape its defense posture.
"There is a greater commitment to investments in the NATO structure," he said. "Of course, there are areas that require time; these cannot be achieved overnight, but I believe we can do this."
Cavo Dragone said the current momentum must be maintained, noting progress in investments and in taking responsibility for the defense of allied territory.
"I believe we are in a good position," he said. "I also believe Ankara will further strengthen this determination among countries."
Asked about Türkiye's role in NATO, Cavo Dragone said he had recently visited defense industry facilities in the country and was impressed by what he saw.
"It was truly impressive. I can say that it impressed me very much," he said.
"In my assessment, Türkiye is a strong ally and will become even stronger in the future," he added.
Cavo Dragone said Türkiye could serve as an example for other NATO allies because of its defense industry investments, production speed and delivery capability.
"Geographically, Türkiye may be on the alliance's frontier, but on many important issues it is at the very center of the alliance," he said. "We trust Türkiye and are pleased to see it as our ally."
Cavo Dragone said disagreements among allies can slow processes, but the advantages of the alliance are far greater than the disadvantages.
"The alliance consists of 32 democracies, and it is normal for there to be some differences of opinion among them," he said. "I can even say these differences add value in terms of reaching consensus, speaking, discussing and finding common ground."
He said mutual trust among allies is becoming stronger each day, and that maintaining cohesion is one of his most important responsibilities.
Türkiye's security concerns should also be addressed on the basis of trust among allies, he said.
"If we can continue to trust each other, as we do today, I think this is the key to the entire alliance," Cavo Dragone said. "'32' is not just a number. If we can truly benefit from the opportunities it offers, it means much more than that."
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