👈 Turkish President Erdoğan at a NATO summit in Ankara: “As Turkey, we have not been able to benefit from the peace dividend after the Cold War in the way our European friends were.”

🔴 Many of the crises and conflicts took place in our immediate vicinity.

🔴 There were times when we were left alone and faced unfair behavior.

🔴 More often than not, we had to defend ourselves on our own.

🔴 Today, in terms of defense costs, military capabilities, and the power of the defense industry, we have surpassed many of our allies.

🔴 President Trump also emphasized that our country’s hosting of this summit played a decisive role in his decision to be involved.

🔴 It was also particularly meaningful that he stressed our personal friendship.

🔴 I thank you, my dear friend, once again for your attention and consideration.

🔴 Our pride, the Armed Forces of Turkey, has in its very core the power and ability to neutralize any threat against our national security.

🔴 We currently command and manage the second-largest ground army in NATO.

🔴 For decades, the security of NATO’s South-East flank has been largely entrusted to our country.

🔴 Turkey has rightfully lived up to this trust.

🔴 Our F-16 fighter jets will be deployed from August as part of NATO’s air policing mission in Estonia.

🔴 We will continue to carry out the command of NATO’s KFOR operation in Kosovo, which we took over in October, until the end of September 2026”

✅