NATO general hails Türkiye as highly capable, indispensable ally

Türkiye is a tremendously important ally with highly capable armed forces, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus Grynkewich said.

In response to Anadolu’s question on NATO–EU cooperation, Grynkewich stressed that the Alliance seeks close alignment with the European Union and aims to combine its strengths effectively, noting that some of the Alliance’s top leaders come from Türkiye, Caliber.Az reports.

Commenting on the recent surge in hybrid threats across Europe, Grynkewich said such attacks are likely to persist.

"We know that Russia is behind some of this. Maybe not all of it, but certainly some of it...This doesn't represent an existential threat to anything that the alliance is doing. It's not undermining our unity. We're able to respond and manage it," he added.

Türkiye joined NATO on February 18, 1952 — the accession protocol had been signed on October 17, 1951.

From the start, Türkiye became a key asset for NATO thanks to its strategic location on the Alliance’s southeastern flank and its strong armed forces, providing land‑ and sea‑bases that broadened NATO’s reach toward the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Over decades, Türkiye has contributed to NATO’s collective security not only by hosting bases (e.g. land and air command facilities) but also by participating in operations, crisis management, peace‑keeping and missions under NATO’s flag.

For NATO, Türkiye remains a bridge between Europe and the Middle East/Asia, which gives the Alliance important geopolitical leverage — especially regarding stability, rapid deployment capabilities, and access to southern and eastern theatres.

By Jeyhun Aghazada