Erdogan demands lifting of restrictions on defense cooperation among NATO allies

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the removal of restrictions on defense cooperation between NATO ally countries.
Erdogan said at a North Atlantic Council meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday, "Restrictions on defense cooperation between allies, particularly in the defense industry, should be lifted."
These restrictions include US sanctions and Turkey's removal from the F-35 program after purchasing Russia's S-400 missile system in 2019, as well as European Union regulations such as the SAF program, which limits the participation of non-EU suppliers in EU-funded defense projects to 35 percent.
Erdogan emphasized that while European allies are taking on more responsibility for the continent's defense, they should avoid policies that could weaken NATO's unity or transatlantic relations. "As European allies take on greater responsibility for the continent's defense, we must avoid actions that could affect the alliance's cohesion and transatlantic relations."
Pointing to Turkey's growing defense sector, Erdogan said the country's most significant achievement in recent years has been the remarkable progress made in the defense industry. "Undoubtedly, our country's greatest achievement is the milestone we have achieved in the defense industry," he said, adding that Turkey has become one of the world's top 10 countries in terms of defense production and exports.
Erdogan also reiterated Ankara's commitment to increasing defense spending to strengthen its cooperation in NATO. He said, "Turkey has taken steps to increase its defense spending ratio to 3.5 percent of GDP before 2030."
Erdogan said Turkey has already allocated 1.5 percent of its GDP for security and resistance-related expenditures.
He also announced that Turkey has allocated an additional $24 billion for its "Steel Dome" air and missile defense project, saying the investment aims to strengthen a critical capability gap in NATO.
Highlighting Turkey's role in NATO, Erdogan said the country, which has Europe's largest land army, is ready to provide its military capabilities to the alliance whenever needed.
He said Turkey is among the top contributors to NATO operations, missions, and exercises in Kosovo, the Black Sea region, the Baltic region, and other areas.
Erdogan also said Turkey hopes to receive NATO's endorsement for its planned center of excellence on counter-unmanned aerial systems, citing the country's experience in successfully deploying unmanned aerial vehicles in real-world battlefields.
He added, "I am confident that this center will enhance our capability to counter the threats posed by air and sea drones."