The 2026 NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, set for 7–8 July in Ankara, is widely seen as a reflection of Türkiye’s expanding diplomatic weight within the alliance.
One of Türkiye's objectives during the summit is to emphasise NATO's determination to protect the Euro-Atlantic region and ensure allied members reaffirm their commitment to Article 5.
Türkiye has contributed nearly 3,000 personnel, as well as various weapons, vehicles and platforms to the alliance.
The primary factor driving Türkiye toward NATO membership was the need to balance the threat posed by the erstwhile Soviet Union's claims on the Turkish Straits and eastern provinces.
Türkiye officially joined NATO following the Korean War, becoming the first country after the US to dispatch ground forces.
The membership protocol was signed on 17 October 1951, and Türkiye officially became a member on 18 February 1952.
Persistent support for global missions
As the alliance's second-largest military, Türkiye has steadily expanded its contributions to missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya and Iraq.
Under the Resolute Support Mission, Türkiye assumed responsibility as the framework nation for the secure operation of Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport, completing the mission on 28 August 2021.
Türkiye also began contributing to the NATO Mission Iraq in 2018 to support capacity building for the Iraqi Army, maintaining support with around 40 personnel until the withdrawal process began in March this year due to deteriorating security conditions.
Türkiye supports ongoing operations, including the Kosovo Force (KFOR), Operation Sea Guardian, and Standing Naval Forces, with nearly 3,000 personnel.
The Turkish Armed Forces participated in 34 NATO exercises in 2023, 39 in 2024 and 50 in 2025.
This year, Türkiye participated in NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise held in Germany, deploying a joint force of more than 2,000 personnel.
During the exercise, the TB-3 armed unmanned aerial vehicle launched from the Turkish naval vessel TCG Anadolu successfully struck a designated target above the Baltic Sea, marking the first time in military history that an unmanned aerial vehicle launched from a ship supported a live-fire exercise.
Defence spending
Türkiye has served for the second time since 2023 as commander of KFOR.
Among NATO's 32 member states, the Turkish Naval Forces rank as the largest contributor to Operation Sea Guardian.
The Turkish High Readiness Maritime Task Force assumed command of the NATO Response Force Maritime Component Command in 2023 and the Mediterranean Task Force Command in 2024–2025.
Türkiye's role within NATO is based on dynamic "security production."
As NATO's second-largest military, projects such as the Steel Dome, KAAN and Altay further strengthen the alliance’s technological edge.
Türkiye allocated 2.33 percent of its gross domestic product to defence in 2025.
From 2028, Türkiye will assume leadership of NATO's Allied Reaction Force.
