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Türkiye assumes key role in NATO with second-largest army and strategic mindset
Sources from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense stated that Türkiye has the second-largest army in NATO and, with its military and diplomatic strength, is a central ally in the alliance's security architecture.
Türkiye has stood out as one of the most critical members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since joining the alliance in 1952. According to an assessment by Ministry of National Defense sources to Anadolu Agency (AA), Ankara is positioned as a strategic actor in NATO with a dynamic "security production" model that goes beyond static membership.
Ministry sources noted that the foundation of Türkiye's entry into NATO lay in the threat created by the Soviet Union's demands regarding the Turkish Straits and eastern provinces. Following the outbreak of the Korean War, Türkiye responded to the United Nations' call on July 25, 1950, becoming the first country after the United States to announce its intention to send ground forces.
From the Korean War to official membership
The success of Turkish troops in Korea prompted Washington to act. On May 15, 1951, the United States sent a letter to other NATO members recommending Türkiye's accession to the alliance. The NATO Ministerial Council, meeting in Ottawa on September 16-20 of the same year, unanimously decided to invite Türkiye to join the organization.
The accession protocol was signed on October 17, 1951. Law No. 5886 concerning the accession of the Republic of Türkiye to the North Atlantic Treaty entered into force on February 18, 1952, and Türkiye officially became a NATO member. On March 1 of the same year, during the Lisbon Conference, the Turkish flag was raised at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) under the command of General Eisenhower, in a ceremony attended by then-Foreign Minister Fuat Köprülü.
Second-largest army and wide operational scope
Türkiye, possessing the second-largest army in NATO, contributes to alliance missions and operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, and Iraq. Unlike many European allies, Türkiye has maintained and increased its military capacity in the post-Cold War period due to counter-terrorism efforts and instability in the Middle East.
Serving within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from 2002-2014, Türkiye took part in the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) from 2015 onward. The Turkish military unit, which undertook the security of Hamid Karzai International Airport within the RSM framework, completed its mission successfully and returned home after the NATO operation ended on August 28, 2021.
A Turkish contingent of approximately 40 personnel, which joined the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) in 2018, supported efforts to enhance the capacity of the Iraqi army. Following the withdrawal that began in March due to deteriorating security conditions, Türkiye continues to contribute to the mission, which is maintained with a minimal staff in Naples, with three personnel.
Türkiye's NATO engagement from the seas to the Balkans
The Turkish Navy is the navy that has provided the most contribution to NATO's Operation Sea Guardian (OSG), launched in the Mediterranean in 2016, among 32 allied countries. To date, Türkiye has commanded Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 five times and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 seven times. The most recent command duties took place within 2025.
Türkiye, which has assumed command of KFOR for the second time since 2023 in Kosovo, contributed to regional stability by deploying a reserve battalion four times following the events of 2022. Currently, support is provided to operations including KFOR, Operation Sea Guardian, combating irregular migration in the Aegean, the Allied Response Force (ARF), and NATO integrated air defense systems with approximately 3,000 troops.
From exercises to technological leap
The Turkish Armed Forces participated in 34 NATO exercises in 2023, 39 in 2024, and 50 in 2025. The Steadfast Dart exercise held in Germany from February 12-24 this year took place with the participation of over 2,000 personnel, including the Anatolia Task Group under the command of the Turkish Navy. During the exercise, the TB-3 unmanned aerial vehicle launched from the TCG Anadolu successfully struck a target over the Baltic Sea. This event entered military literature as the first instance of a drone launched from a ship participating in a live-fire exercise.
Ministry sources emphasize that systems such as "Steel Dome," "KAAN," and "Altay" have made Türkiye not just a country strengthening its own defense capacity, but a key contributor to NATO's technological superiority. Allocating 2.33 percent of its gross domestic product to defense in 2025, Türkiye is among the countries bearing the highest financial and military responsibility within the alliance.
Historic summit in Ankara and ARF command
The NATO summit of heads of state and government to be held in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026, is seen as an indication of Türkiye's diplomatic weight and recognized leadership within the alliance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership diplomacy, along with Türkiye's military strength and contributions to the alliance, are expected to come to the fore during the summit.
Türkiye, which will take command of the Allied Response Force (ARF), NATO's most critical force, from 2028 onwards, is also shown among the members adapting most quickly to the alliance's changing threat perception with its capabilities in artificial intelligence, cyber defense, and space. The Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence, whose establishment work began on April 30, 2024, will be the third NATO center of excellence hosted by Türkiye.
Multidimensional contribution from Black Sea to Africa
Within the alliance's "deterrence and defense" concept, Türkiye is one of the few allies, alongside the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France, capable of managing a rapid response force at the operational theater level. Having also pioneered the reactivation of the NATO Liaison Office at the African Union headquarters on March 9, 2022, Ankara carries out tasks including naval security and aviation in Georgia, deputy command of the main group in Jordan, and defense capacity building advisory roles in Moldova, Mauritania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ministry sources stated that Türkiye adopts a "360-degree" approach against threats, contributes to global stability beyond its geographical borders, and acts as a balancing element that manages conflicts with a balanced and constructive attitude rather than an escalatory one in regional crises. The Turkish Navy, which has held command of the Black Sea Task Group in the 2024-2028 period, also holds the Amphibious Task Group and Landing Forces command duties within the ARF Maritime Component Command for 2025-2026.
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