By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
ANKARA Finnish President Alexander Stubb met his Turkish NATO Summit counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Ankara on Tuesday, thanking him for hosting the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit and describing Türkiye as a key partner for Finland’s security and economy.
A Show of Alliance Unity
Speaking after their bilateral talks, Stubb told Erdoğan that the two leaders’ meeting came as Finland attended the summit as one of NATO Summit newer members, with Stubb also set to attend a dinner hosted by Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan later that evening.
Stubb described Türkiye as a vital partner for Finland on both security and economic fronts, stressing that the two nations’ cooperation contributes to a more secure Europe overall.
The remarks reflect a broader shift in Helsinki-Ankara relations following Finland’s accession to NATO Summit. Finland became a full NATO Summit member in 2023 and shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia the longest of any NATO ally.
Türkiye played an instrumental role in securing Finland’s, and later Sweden’s, membership, after initially conditioning its approval on stronger counterterrorism commitments from both Nordic states.
Backing Türkiye’s Role in Ukraine Diplomacy
Stubb also commended Türkiye’s readiness to host peace negotiations aimed at a “sustainable and just peace” in Ukraine. The comment aligns with Ankara’s long-running push to position itself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Erdoğan has repeatedly said Türkiye is striving for the successful completion of the peace process between Ukraine and Russia, pointing to the Istanbul talks as a diplomatic platform whose effectiveness has already been proven.
Summit Context
The Stubb-Erdoğan meeting took place as world leaders, senior delegations and members of the international press gathered in Ankara for the 36th NATO Summit, hosted by Türkiye and bringing together representatives from all 32 NATO Summit member nations, along with partner countries from the Asia-Pacific region and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Talks at the summit have centered on defense investment, military production, support for Ukraine, regional security and burden-sharing among allies.
The gathering also opened with the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, described as the largest such event in the alliance’s history, bringing government officials and defense companies together to strengthen cooperation on defense production.
Growing Strategic Ties
Stubb’s warm remarks toward Erdoğan echo comments he made in June, when he said Europe needs to recognize that Türkiye must be treated as close a security partner as possible, framing it as part of a broader push for Europe to “think big” on defense.
Turkish defense exports to NATO Summit countries exceeded $5 billion last year, more than half of Türkiye’s total $10 billion in defense exports, underscoring the deepening military-industrial ties between Ankara and its European allies.
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