Brussels, June 30 (QNA) - European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the NATO Summit in Ankara on July 7-8 would be "truly historic," highlighting Turkiye's strategic role in the alliance and stressing the need for transatlantic unity amid mounting security challenges.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Kallas described Turkiye as a strategic partner on migration, defense, and regional stability.
She said transatlantic relations had come under considerable strain in recent months, making it imperative for the summit to send a clear message of unity.
Kallas said the meeting would focus on expanding defense industrial production, strengthening NATO's defense and deterrence capabilities, and stepping up support for Ukraine.
Asked whether Europe needed a unified army, Kallas rejected the idea, saying the European Union instead encourages member states to pursue joint defense procurement, as some military capabilities are too costly for individual countries to develop independently.
On Turkiye's role in Europe's evolving security architecture, Kallas said the country possesses NATO's second-largest military and a highly advanced defense industry, making it a vital ally within the alliance.
Turning to the Middle East, Kallas said Israel's actions had drawn widespread condemnation across Europe, particularly extremist settler violence and continued settlement expansion, which she said were making a two-state solution "practically impossible."
She reaffirmed the European Union's support for a two-state solution. (QNA)