How Turkey became NATO’s indispensable partner – and a major force on the global stage – opinion

Turkey hosted the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026, marking a significant shift in its role within the alliance. This was only the second time Turkey hosted the summit, signaling its emergence as a pivotal state influencing the region from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. Despite complex relations with allies and the purchase of Russian weapons, Turkey holds crucial strategic assets, including leading the Black Sea mine clearance task force and maintaining NATO's second-largest land army. The summit highlighted the growing importance of NATO's southern flank, addressing threats like terrorism and regional instability. Turkey's geopolitical significance is further amplified by its role as a central hub for energy pipelines connecting Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe, providing a vital alternative for European energy security. The summit also focused on strengthening security cooperation, expanding defense production, and adapting NATO for future threats, with Turkey's rapidly expanding defense industry making it an increasingly important partner. The Ankara summit underscored a change in perception, recognizing Turkey as an indispensable strategic player rather than merely a problematic partner.