Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş Emphasizes Turkey’s Growing Role Ahead of NATO Parliamentary Summit

After official visits to Finland and Sweden, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş told reporters that the NATO alliance has proven inadequate and the European Union increasingly ineffective in addressing security challenges faced by countries bordering Russia. He argued that these shortcomings boost Turkey’s strategic importance, stating, “Hakikaten Türkiye’nin önemi artıyor.”

Kurtulmuş also announced that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will convene in Istanbul on 28‑29 June, expecting participation from more than 20 parliamentary leaders. He highlighted the need for broader security concepts that include economic and political dimensions, and referred to a range of regional issues—from the Russia‑Ukraine war to the Syrian situation—that Turkey is actively engaged in.

The remarks underline Turkey’s intent to position itself as a central actor in European security dialogues following the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO.