Finland and Türkiye are well positioned to deepen defense cooperation as NATO allies, former Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said, highlighting Türkiye’s military capabilities, defense industry and strategic location.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Kaikkonen said Finland’s accession to NATO had opened new opportunities for bilateral defense ties between Helsinki and Ankara.

“As NATO allies, Finland and Türkiye are very well positioned to further deepen their defense cooperation,” Kaikkonen noted.

He described Türkiye as an important ally with strong military capabilities and a significant defense industry, noting its strategic position between Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East.

Kaikkonen noted that a memorandum of understanding on defense industry cooperation signed by the two countries could help further strengthen bilateral relations.

Addressing security in the Baltic Sea, Kaikkonen said Finland was prepared for different scenarios amid heightened regional tensions. NATO membership has strengthened Finland’s deterrence, he said, adding that the country would rely on its national defense forces and allied support in the event of military aggression.

Kaikkonen also pointed to NATO’s Baltic Sentry initiative, which was launched to strengthen surveillance and protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Turning to European defense, he said the continent’s defense industry production remained below required levels, with the war in Ukraine exposing shortages in ammunition, air defense systems, drones, missiles and broader industrial capacity.

Kaikkonen also warned that Russia could reinforce forces operating under its Leningrad Military District over the next two to four years, depending on developments in Ukraine.

Russian forces stationed near Finland could eventually increase from around 30,000 to approximately 80,000 troops, he said, though a major buildup was unlikely while the war in Ukraine continued.

Kaikkonen said future relations between Russia, Northern Europe and NATO would depend on Moscow’s adherence to international law and agreements, adding that political dialogue between Europe and Russia would eventually be necessary.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday reaffirmed Türkiye’s determination to safeguard its national interests at home and abroad, warning that Ankara would not remain a bystander to hostile moves in the region, as he also announced new housing measures for Istanbul and highlighted the country’s economic and diplomatic agenda.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Erdoğan said officials had discussed a wide range of issues and taken decisions aimed at improving the welfare of Turkish citizens.

“We see the Republic of Türkiye, the latest state we established on these lands, as the most precious link in our journey spanning thousands of years,” Erdoğan said.

Turning to regional developments, Erdoğan struck a firm tone, saying Türkiye’s measured approach should not be mistaken for weakness.

“Let me state this openly and clearly: Our calm and composed stance should not lead anyone to false expectations,” he said. “We will not allow anyone to conduct operations on these lands, nor will we simply watch hostile steps in our region from the sidelines.”

Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye is not opposed to any religion or community but would stand against aggression regardless of its source.

“We harbor no categorical hostility toward anyone,” he said, adding that those unsettled by Türkiye’s growing strength would not be able to divert the country from its course.

“Türkiye will once again unite with its brothers and sisters. Those who are friends of Türkiye will win, and those who choose hostility will lose,” he said.

The president also addressed ongoing search-and-rescue operations following maritime accidents in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Istanbul’s Silivri district.

Erdoğan said 14 people were killed and another 14 remained missing after a passenger vessel capsized off Girne. Türkiye is supporting operations conducted in coordination with the TRNC with nine vessels and 11 aircraft, while Turkish authorities are closely following the judicial investigation.

Search-and-rescue efforts are also continuing for 10 crew members following a separate shipwreck off Silivri, he said.

On foreign policy, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s historical ties, cultural heritage and growing capabilities have strengthened its position on the international stage.

Ankara, he said, would continue pursuing cooperation with countries across the world through a foreign policy centered on Türkiye’s national interests.

Erdoğan highlighted the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and said Türkiye reaffirmed its commitment to engagement with the bloc by attending its Sept. 1 summit in Bishkek.

He said he held talks with several heads of state and government on the sidelines of the summit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On the economy, Erdoğan pointed to recently released trade figures, saying Türkiye’s exports reached $185 billion in the first eight months of 2026, leaving the country $1.7 billion short of its year-end target.

He congratulated Turkish exporters for their contribution to the performance and reiterated the government’s commitment to keeping the economy on a path of investment, production and growth.

Erdoğan also pointed to soaring oil prices in several countries, including the United States, arguing that the economic repercussions of the war triggered by what he described as Israeli “provocations” were being felt far beyond Iran.

“As long as this radical mentality does not change, the storm of crises will not subside,” he said.

Despite global and regional pressures, Erdoğan said Ankara would not abandon policies prioritizing production and investment, while maintaining its determined fight against inflation.

The president also said preparations were continuing for the COP31 climate summit, which Türkiye is set to host in Antalya.

Infrastructure and transportation projects are being accelerated ahead of the gathering, Erdoğan said, including the completion of 38 kilometers (24 miles) of road works designed to ease traffic in Antalya.

More than 100,000 visitors from over 190 countries are expected to attend the summit, according to Erdoğan.

Erdoğan also announced fresh details of the government’s housing drive, with applications for a new rental housing project in Istanbul set to begin Sept. 14.

Türkiye previously held lotteries for 500,000 social housing units across all 81 provinces, with the first keys expected to be delivered beginning in March 2027.

In Istanbul, the government plans to build 15,000 rental housing units in addition to 100,000 social housing units. The first lottery for the rental project is scheduled for October.

Erdoğan said the broader housing and urban transformation drive would ultimately provide safer homes for around 2 million people in Istanbul.

Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan congratulated Türkiye’s national women’s volleyball team, the “Sultans of the Net,” for defeating Italy and claiming the European championship for a second consecutive time.

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Authorities on Monday detained 10 people who worked at an Istanbul prison where a former top intelligence official was incarcerated in 2011. The death of Kaşif Kozinoğlu, who worked for the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), is being treated as suspicious. At the same time, media outlets reported that investigators are looking into the suspects’ alleged links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).

Kozinoğlu, a former major who worked as the MIT’s chief adviser for Central Asia before his arrest in 2011, was detained as part of the far-reaching Ergenekon investigations. Ergenekon was the name given to an alleged “deep state” network by prosecutors, but subsequent investigations and trials found that FETÖ infiltrators had orchestrated the probe within the judiciary and law enforcement. Kozinoğlu’s death at the time was attributed to a heart attack after he reportedly exercised excessively at the prison in Istanbul’s Silivri district.

Most of the suspects detained on Monday were prison guards who worked at Silivri prison while Kozinoğlu was held there. Another suspect remains at large. The Sabah newspaper identified the fugitive suspect as Ferhat Veysi Gül. A report published by Sabah on Monday said Gül was the sole guard in charge of Kozinoğlu’s ward and deliberately ignored an emergency call from the ward on the day Kozinoğlu died.

Security camera footage from the prison reportedly showed Gül turning up the volume of music at the venue to muffle the emergency alarm, ignoring it for several minutes. When other guards arrived about 15 minutes later, he joined them in checking on Kozinoğlu. Kozinoğlu was transferred to a hospital but was pronounced dead. Gül fled to France in August 2016 as Türkiye stepped up its crackdown on suspected FETÖ members following the terrorist group’s coup attempt in July 2016.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who has led efforts to reopen unsolved cases since taking office in February, said in a social media post on Monday that authorities were determined not to leave any suspicious deaths in the dark.

“We are revisiting cases that have raised questions in the public conscience, regardless of how much time has passed, and pursuing every piece of evidence that can be uncovered,” Gürlek said.

“Camera footage and medical records were examined, and statements were taken from prison officials, gendarmerie and medical personnel, his cellmates and the deceased’s wife. On April 10, 2012, a decision of non-prosecution was issued. Our Department for Investigating Unsolved Crimes subsequently re-examined the case. In light of assessments by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation was reopened on Aug. 26, 2026,” Gürlek stated.

Kozinoğlu was scheduled to testify in a hearing and said in a statement shortly before his death that he feared he could be killed. Prosecutors had accused him of being a member of a terrorist group and leaking confidential documents, and he was questioned by Zekeriya Öz, a prosecutor who is now on the run after an arrest warrant was issued for him on charges of FETÖ membership.

The Ergenekon case began in 2007 after weapons were discovered in Istanbul’s Ümraniye district and eventually led to the prosecution of hundreds of military officers, journalists, academics and other public figures accused of belonging to an alleged clandestine network plotting to overthrow the government.

Following the failed coup attempt in 2016, Turkish authorities reassessed many of the investigations and trials carried out by members of FETÖ’s network within the judiciary. Officials have since argued that the Ergenekon proceedings were part of a broader effort by the terrorist group to remove senior military personnel and expand its influence within state institutions.

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Türkiye this year marks the 74th anniversary of its accession to NATO and has the second-largest army in the alliance. It is the only country in NATO’s “southern flank” with a sizable military power and a gateway to the Middle East and wider Asia. Security of the Black Sea also largely depends on Türkiye, especially amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which threatens maritime security.

Founded on April 4, 1949, under the collective self-defense principle set out in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established as a defense alliance against the Soviet threat.

Following the end of the Cold War and the bipolar world order in 1989, NATO launched its Partnership for Peace program with former socialist countries in 1994, with the aim of facilitating their eventual accession to the alliance. In this context, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined NATO in 1999, bringing the number of member states to 19.

The fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, marked a turning point in NATO’s history and heralded the end of the Cold War.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO established partnerships with its former adversaries as the alliance adapted to the post-Cold War security environment.

NATO later conducted its first major crisis-management operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington prompted NATO to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for the first time in its history and led the alliance to adopt a broader approach to security.

Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty forms the basis of NATO’s collective defense principle, under which an armed attack against one or more allies is considered an attack against all members.

The article states that if such an attack occurs in North America or Europe, each member will assist the attacked ally by taking “such action as it deems necessary,” including the possible use of armed force, in line with the right to individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

NATO subsequently took command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

At NATO’s Prague Summit in November 2002, the alliance entered its second round of post-Cold War enlargement, holding accession and alliance-related talks with Balkan and Baltic countries.

Greece also withdrew from NATO’s military command structure in 1974 in response to Türkiye’s second Cyprus Peace Operation in August that year, but returned to the structure in 1980.

NATO marked its 77th anniversary on April 4, 2026, celebrating the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949.

The main aim of the alliance is to maintain the security and sovereignty of member states while developing cooperation among partners.

For Türkiye, the key factor behind accession was the need to balance Soviet pressure, particularly Moscow’s claims over the Turkish straits and eastern provinces. Since joining NATO in 1952, however, Türkiye has emerged as a key member of the alliance due to its support for NATO missions, participation in exercises, steadily growing military capabilities and geopolitical importance.

Türkiye enters alliance

Following World War II, the Soviet Union expanded its influence by establishing communist governments across Eastern Europe, laying the foundations of the Cold War.

NATO emerged as a source of hope for Türkiye under these circumstances. From the alliance’s establishment, the Turkish government showed a strong willingness to join. However, some of NATO’s smaller members, as well as the United States, initially opposed Türkiye’s membership over concerns that it could heighten the Soviet threat.

Yet, Türkiye’s geopolitical importance and the performance of Turkish troops deployed during the Korean War in 1950 demonstrated the potential strategic value of bringing the country into NATO. After two previous applications, in May and September 1950, had been rejected, Türkiye was invited to join NATO alongside Greece on Sept. 21, 1951. The U.S. Senate approved the accession of the two countries on Jan. 29, 1952, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved Türkiye’s accession to NATO on Feb. 18, 1952.

Contributions to deterrence

Türkiye’s contributions extend from the Baltic region to the Black Sea and include NATO missions, operations and exercises, as well as responsibilities in maritime security, crisis management, training and deterrence.

The country currently contributes nearly 3,000 personnel, along with various weapons, vehicles and military platforms, to ongoing NATO missions, operations and initiatives.

Türkiye also hosts critical NATO facilities, including the Allied Land Command, located in the western city of Izmir, and the Rapid Deployable Corps, based in Istanbul.

The capital, Ankara, hosts the Center of Excellence for Defense Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) and the Partnership for Peace Training Center. Istanbul hosts the NATO Maritime Security Center of Excellence (MARSEC COE).

Furthermore, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) this year joined NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise in Germany from Feb. 12-24, held to improve the operational readiness of the Allied Reaction Force. The army contributed naval, land and air elements, including the Anadolu Task Group, and deployed a joint force of more than 2,000 personnel to Germany.

Starting in 2028, Türkiye will assume leadership of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF), one of the Alliance’s most critical military capabilities, further strengthening its key role in European security.

With its capabilities in artificial intelligence, cyber defense and space, Türkiye stands out as one of the NATO members adapting most rapidly to the Alliance’s evolving threat landscape.

In this context, Türkiye stands out as one of NATO’s key members strengthening not only its own defense capabilities but also the Alliance’s technological edge through major projects such as the Steel Dome integrated air defense system, the KAAN fighter jet and the Altay main battle tank.

Türkiye allocated 2.33% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense in 2025, placing it among the NATO members assuming a high level of financial and military responsibility within the Alliance.

Türkiye also remains one of NATO’s key members in counterterrorism, maintaining an active operational role in combating terrorism, one of the threats facing the Alliance.

Significant missions

Since joining NATO, Türkiye has steadily expanded its contributions to the alliance’s missions and operations, including in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Libya and Iraq. Turkish officials say the country has preserved and developed Cold War-era military capabilities while also fighting terrorism and responding to regional instability.

Türkiye supported NATO’s Afghanistan mission between 2002 and 2014 under the International Security Assistance Force and later contributed to the Resolute Support Mission from 2015. Turkish forces also assumed framework nation responsibility for the secure operation of Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport until NATO’s mission ended in August 2021.

The Turkish military also contributed to the NATO Mission Iraq, launched to help build the capacity of the Iraqi army, from 2018 until a withdrawal process began in March amid worsening security conditions.

Following NATO’s decision to continue the mission with a core staff at the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Türkiye assigned three personnel to the new structure.

July’s NATO summit

Moreover, Ankara this year, hosted the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on July 7-8, with leaders issuing a final declaration reaffirming their “unwavering commitment” to Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense clause, and to the transatlantic bond.

The summit brought together leaders of the 32-member alliance as well as key partners to discuss Europe’s defense capacity.

The final declaration of the summit in the end underscored collective defense, procurement agreements and continued support for Ukraine.

Member states had gathered in Ankara to reaffirm their “unwavering commitment” to Article 5, NATO’s collective defense clause, and to the transatlantic bond, it noted.

The declaration said the investments would deliver required capabilities while also strengthening the defense industry and resilience. adding that European allies and Canada increased investment in core defense requirements by more than $139 billion in 2025.

NATO allies further stressed that the support for Ukraine should remain fair, predictable and sustainable over the long term, pledging 70 billion euros ($81.5 billion) in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine in 2026 and committing to maintain at least the same level of support in 2027.

Moreover, the declaration also emphasized that the Alliance continued to respond and adapt to strategic competition, widespread instability, hybrid threats and recurring crises shaping the broader security environment.

Turkish security forces detained nine suspects linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) as they allegedly attempted to flee the country by boat off the coast of southwestern Türkiye, authorities said Monday.

A total of 12 people, including the nine suspects, two children and the boat’s captain, were intercepted off the Datça district of Muğla province.

The Muğla Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the suspects had previously faced proceedings over alleged membership in FETÖ and that their cases were pending appeal. Authorities determined they were preparing to leave Türkiye illegally.

Coast guard teams intercepted the Russian-flagged vessel “Peter Pan” near international waters after receiving information about the group’s location.

Separate legal proceedings were launched against the nine suspects for allegedly attempting to leave the country illegally.

The captain was detained and is being investigated on suspicion of aiding a terrorist group and migrant smuggling. The two children were handed over to relatives.

FETÖ has faced increased scrutiny following the coup attempt that killed 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others. Tens of thousands of people were detained, arrested or dismissed from public sector jobs following the attempt under a state of emergency.

The terrorist group faces operations almost daily as investigators still try to unravel their massive network of infiltrators everywhere, but an unknown number of FETÖ members, mostly high-ranking figures, fled Türkiye when the coup attempt was thwarted.

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Statements by two women to investigators revealed how Muhittin Böcek, former mayor of the southern Turkish province of Antalya for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), sexually harassed them and used sex in exchange for jobs at the municipality.

Böcek was arrested last year on corruption charges, and investigators have since launched a probe into allegations of sexual harassment by the mayor. Several women have already come forward, shedding light on the allegations. Two more women testified in the case, and their statements, made public on Sunday, show how they were lured to Böcek’s residence with the promise of being hired at the municipality. The unidentified women accused Tuğçe Güney, the director of a municipal youth center who was arrested earlier, of arranging their meetings with Böcek. One of the victims said Güney told her that Böcek would hire her and provide financial assistance to her family if she slept with him.

She said she had sexual intercourse with Böcek and was given TL 2,000 when she left the house after the incident. The other victim, meanwhile, said she was taken to Böcek’s home twice on the promise of getting a job at the municipality and that Böcek initiated physical contact with her during both meetings, which made her uncomfortable.

According to the first newly surfaced testimony, the incident took place in 2024. The female victim alleged that Tuğçe Güney asked her to meet with Muhittin Böcek “for the purpose of prostitution.” In her testimony, the woman said Güney told her: “He is the mayor. If you sleep with him, he will give you a job at the municipality and provide financial assistance to you and your family.”

The woman said she accepted the offer because she was experiencing financial difficulties and went with Tuğçe Güney to Muhittin Böcek’s home in the Konyaaltı district.

The victim said that when they arrived at the house, Tuğçe Güney stayed in the living room while she went into another room with Muhittin Böcek. However, she said she did not want to have intercourse with Böcek because she felt uncomfortable and left the room.

According to her testimony, as she was preparing to leave the house, Tuğçe Güney stopped her and said: “Use your common sense. Muhittin likes you. Go back to the room.”

The woman said she then returned to the room and had sexual intercourse with Muhittin Böcek.

One of the most striking allegations in the victim’s testimony concerned a payment allegedly made after the meeting. The woman said Böcek gave her TL 2,000 as she was leaving the house.

The victim said she later asked Tuğçe Güney whether she had received any payment herself. She alleged that Güney replied, referring to Muhittin Böcek, “My father already takes care of all my needs. My father supports me.”

The second newly surfaced victim testimony in the case file said the incidents began approximately four years ago. The female victim said she met Tuğçe Güney through a mutual friend and that Güney took her phone number on the day they met and asked her, “Shall I arrange a job for you at the municipality?”

The woman said she was receptive to the offer because she was unemployed at the time. A few days later, she said, Güney called her and told her, “I will take you to the mayor’s house, introduce you to him and get you a job at the municipality.”

According to the victim’s account, Güney later called her and said they would go to Böcek’s house for dinner. The two met in Konyaaltı and took a taxi to Böcek’s home. The woman said that, besides Böcek, a man in his 30s who introduced himself as an assistant was also at the house.

The victim said that during dinner, Muhittin Böcek began touching her legs and that she moved his hand away because she was uncomfortable. In her testimony, she said no discussion took place that day about hiring her at the municipality. After leaving the house, she said she asked Tuğçe Güney why Böcek had touched her and alleged that Güney replied, “He liked you very much; that’s why he touched you. Never mind.”

When she asked what would happen with her being hired by the municipality, the woman said Güney told her, “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.”

Previously, the testimonies of three victims of a similar nature had been reported by the media in the investigation conducted by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. With the two newly surfaced testimonies, the number of victim testimonies related to the alleged prostitution investigation involving Böcek and his associates that have been reported by the media has risen to five.

The new testimonies are expected to further highlight several aspects of the investigation, particularly whether promises of municipal employment were used to arrange meetings between women and Muhittin Böcek, Tuğçe Güney’s role in the process, and whether other women were similarly directed into such settings using the same method.

The investigation by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is continuing on multiple fronts.

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