Türkiye strengthens ties with the Nordic-Baltic region [INTERVIEW]

Dr Aleksander Olech (Defence24): Today with me is Dr Esra Öztürk from the Nordic Baltic Institute. Good morning.

Dr Esra Öztürk (the Nordic Baltic Institute): Good morning, Aleksander.

We’re very pleased to have you with us today because, as far as I know, Türkiye is quite engaged in the Nordic-Baltic region. Could you tell us more, of course, with regards to your huge industry that could be crucial for the Nordic-Baltic region?

Thank you very much. First of all, welcome to Ankara and welcome to the NATO Summit. It is a pleasure to see Defence24 here at today’s Defence Industry Forum, organised alongside the NATO Summit.

Let me begin by briefly introducing the Nordic Baltic Institute. We are an independent think tank and NGO based in Istanbul dedicated to strengthening relations between Türkiye and the Nordic-Baltic countries. We work to advance cooperation in security, defence, innovation, trade, sustainability and public policy because we believe these relationships are becoming increasingly important for regional stability and the future of European security.

Following Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO, the Alliance’s northern flank has been fundamentally transformed. Türkiye played an important role in that process, and since then its relations with both countries have entered a new strategic phase. Defence cooperation, in particular, has become one of the strongest pillars of this relationship, and I believe we are only at the beginning of a much deeper partnership.

Today, Europe is reassessing its security architecture. Growing uncertainty about the future of transatlantic security has encouraged European countries to strengthen their defence capabilities through initiatives such as SAFE. However, Europe’s challenge is not only increasing defence spending—it is also expanding industrial capacity, technological innovation and resilient supply chains.

This is where Türkiye has become an increasingly valuable partner. When I speak of Türkiye’s contribution, I do not mean assistance, but partnership through industrial cooperation, joint production, technology transfer, investment and long-term defence collaboration.

We already see this across the Baltic region. Cooperation between Türkiye and countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland continues to expand in areas including unmanned systems, armoured vehicles and advanced defence technologies. These partnerships strengthen deterrence while enhancing the region’s overall defence capabilities.

At the Nordic Baltic Institute, we closely follow these developments. Although I am not a defence industry specialist myself, our researchers examine the long-term strategic potential of defence-industrial cooperation between Türkiye and the Nordic-Baltic region, which we consider one of the most promising areas for future collaboration.

During my visits to the Baltic countries, one message has been remarkably consistent. Policymakers, experts and local stakeholders all emphasise that security is no longer an abstract concept. Living on NATO’s eastern flank means that developments in the region are closely monitored every single day. There is a strong determination to reinforce deterrence and resilience, and achieving that requires trusted partnerships and credible capabilities.

That is why cooperation with Türkiye has become increasingly important. It is not simply about procuring defence equipment; it is about building long-term strategic partnerships that contribute to the collective security of Europe.

Thank you very much. I do believe it’s the very beginning of cooperation between Poland, the Nordic-Baltic region, and of course, Türkiye. We are delighted to have you with us, and I would like to invite you to continue this discussion with Defence24 in the future.

Thank you very much. It has been a pleasure speaking with you. I also believe that we are witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in cooperation between Türkiye, Poland and the Nordic-Baltic region. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Defence24 in the future. Thank you.