Turkey drives NATO reform discussion and launches serial production of Kaan fighter jet after summit

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the recent NATO summit as historic, emphasizing that all NATO members must jointly decide the alliance’s future. He highlighted ongoing debates about burden‑sharing, the need for greater European contribution, and the growing importance of defence‑industry capabilities within NATO strategy, noting that Turkey’s defence sector is now a core element of its security planning.

U.S. representative Rona Doğan Sural explained how the summit was perceived in Washington, noting Turkey’s increased diplomatic visibility and organisational competence. She discussed the continued relevance of CAATSA sanctions, the pending F‑35 negotiations, and rising U.S.–Iran tensions. Significantly, Sural announced that the United States has approved the engines for Turkey’s Kaan combat aircraft, allowing the programme to move into serial production, a milestone for Turkish defence autonomy.