ISTANBUL, June 14 (BV) – NATO faces one of the most challenging periods in its history as divisions between the United States and Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine and growing security threats reshape the alliance ahead of a leaders’ summit in Ankara next month, diplomats and security experts said at a conference in Istanbul.
Speaking at a forum titled “NATO 2026: A View from Istanbul on the Road to the Ankara Summit”, participants said the July 7-8 summit in the Turkish capital could prove critical for the future direction of the alliance and Europe’s security architecture.
The event was organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council and the Youth Section of the Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) Türkiye.
Mehmet Fatih Ceylan, president of the Turkish Atlantic Council and a former diplomat, said the Ankara summit would test whether NATO can overcome growing differences between Washington and its European allies.
“The key question is whether Ankara can help bring together the two sides of the Atlantic,” Ceylan said, adding that NATO was experiencing one of the most serious internal crises in its history.
He said tensions within the alliance predate U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term and stem from a series of disputes stretching back more than two decades, including the Iraq war, burden-sharing disagreements, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and Washington’s strategic shift toward the Indo-Pacific.
Ceylan argued that Europe’s efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities should not exclude non-EU NATO members such as Türkiye, Britain and Norway.
“Türkiye should not be left outside debates on Europe’s security,” he said.
Tuna Tanman, president of YATA Türkiye, said NATO’s security agenda now extends far beyond traditional military threats.
“The first front of war is no longer always the border line,” Tanman said, citing cyberattacks, artificial intelligence, energy security, migration and climate change as major security challenges.
He described Türkiye as a pivotal actor within NATO because of its position at the crossroads of the Black Sea, the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East.
“Europe’s security cannot be considered separately from the Black Sea, and the Black Sea’s security cannot be considered separately from Türkiye,” he said.
Experts participating in panel discussions said Europe remains heavily dependent on the United States for nuclear deterrence and broader security guarantees, despite growing calls for greater strategic autonomy.
Ayse Kucuk of Istanbul Gelisim University said current geopolitical conditions were pushing Europe toward a more independent security posture, while Serhat Guvenc of Kadir Has University argued that Russia’s actions since 2014 had restored NATO’s original role as a military alliance.
“Russia remains NATO’s principal threat, while China is increasingly viewed as a strategic challenge,” Guvenc said, adding that uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy had become a concern for many allies.
Megan Gisclon of the Istanbul Policy Center said European governments were under growing pressure to build more sustainable defence capabilities as Washington’s long-term commitment to Europe becomes less certain.
In a separate panel on strategic autonomy, participants highlighted Türkiye’s balancing role between Russia and Ukraine and its growing geopolitical importance.
Fahri Erenel of Istinye University said the Ankara summit would take place amid multiple international crises and could offer Türkiye an opportunity to showcase its expanding defence industry and diplomatic influence.
Emir Abbas Gurbuz of the Turkish Atlantic Council said the debate within NATO had shifted from fears of alliance fragmentation to discussions about strategic autonomy.
He noted that Türkiye, alongside countries such as France and Britain, has long pursued policies reflecting national interests while remaining committed to NATO.
“Türkiye’s ability to support Ukraine while maintaining dialogue with Russia strengthened its position as a trusted actor capable of communicating with both sides during crises,” Gurbuz said.
The experts agreed that the Ankara summit will be closely watched as NATO seeks to manage transatlantic tensions, strengthen collective security and define its future role in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.