NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has highlighted the growing influence and capabilities of the Turkish defense industry, calling its foundation “truly impressive.” Speaking ahead of the upcoming NATO Defense Ministers’ meeting — which will also mark the first appearance of the new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — Rutte underscored Turkey’s vital role in strengthening both the Alliance and Europe’s defense capacity.

Responding to questions about Turkey’s potential contributions to NATO and peace efforts in Ukraine, Rutte stated, “The foundation of the Turkish defense industry is genuinely remarkable.” He noted that hundreds of institutions are actively engaged in innovation, while thousands of companies operate under the Presidency of Defense Industries, driving production, research, and technological advancement.

Rutte recalled his meetings with Professor Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industry Agency, both during his visit to Ankara and in Brussels, emphasizing that Turkey’s defense sector works closely with NATO allies. “What you are doing in Turkey is highly significant, and it’s closely integrated with European defense efforts. The Turkish industry provides some of the most critical components for final products. We can only ask you to do even more,” Rutte said.

He further urged all NATO members — including France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Turkey — to increase and accelerate their defense production capacities. This call reflects NATO’s growing emphasis on defense readiness amid global tensions, as well as Turkey’s expanding role in ensuring regional and European stability.

Rutte’s remarks reaffirm Turkey’s position as a key defense industry power within NATO, with its robust infrastructure, innovative ecosystem, and rapidly advancing production capabilities setting an example across the alliance.