Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has outlined the main agenda for the NATO summit, which will be held in Ankara on July 7-8, emphasizing that the defense industry has evolved from a secondary issue into a strategic priority for the alliance.

Speaking during a visit to Canada, Fidan

the upcoming summit would be of historic significance, as the current international geopolitical environment requires NATO member states to make decisions that will shape not only the alliance's future but also the future of the broader region, The Caspian Post reports.

"The summit will truly be historic because the international geopolitical situation has reached a stage where the decisions made by NATO member states will have an even greater impact on both the future of the alliance and the future of our region. The central issue on the agenda will be increasing defense spending. This is no longer simply a matter for discussion. A review of concrete measures and expenditures will be carried out, after which a report will be prepared," the minister said.

Fidan recalled that NATO traditionally focused its military and political leadership meetings on examining the structure and organization of military units, their technical readiness, and their responses to potential wartime scenarios.

However, he noted that recent developments, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian War and other ongoing conflicts, have fundamentally changed the alliance's priorities.

"In recent years, especially in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War and other conflicts, it has become evident that we have moved beyond the issue of basic combat readiness. We have developed a deeper political and strategic understanding of our position in the defense industry. At this stage, the defense industry has ceased to be a secondary issue in NATO planning and meetings and has become a matter of strategic importance at the highest level," Fidan stated.

According to the Turkish foreign minister, the Ankara summit will therefore feature a dedicated agenda and a series of special events focused on the defense industry.

He added that high-level strategic and political discussions among NATO leaders will also play a key role during the summit. These talks are expected to address ways of reconciling differing views on the alliance's future, resolving transatlantic differences, assessing current threats, and strengthening NATO's overall readiness.

"There are several important issues that require discussion, and I believe these talks will take place in a constructive atmosphere," Fidan concluded.