NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone made comprehensive assessments at the headquarters in Brussels ahead of the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8.
Dragone, who took over as head of the Military Committee in January 2025, said that when he assumed office he described NATO as a "strong and healthy" alliance, and that this impression had been reinforced over the past year and a half.
NATO is stronger
Admiral Dragone stressed that the alliance is stronger and more determined today than before. "Back then we were waking up, now we are on our feet and walking. Of course we can debate the pace, but it is clear we are moving in the right direction," Dragone said, recalling that all allies are aware of the current threats and that a commitment to increase defense investments was made at last year's summit in The Hague.
Dragone said, "Now we want to see not just words, but their implementation. Have we reached the goal? No. There is still much to be done, but I believe we are on the right track. NATO is stronger and more determined today. This is exactly how the alliance needed in modern reality should be."
Noting that differences of opinion among allies could slow down processes in the alliance's transformation, but that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, Dragone said, "In an alliance of 32 democratic countries, it is normal to have some differences. In fact, these differences add value to the process of reaching consensus, talking, debating, and finding common ground."
Expectations from the Ankara summit
Asked about military planning expectations for the summit in Ankara, Dragone stressed that concrete steps are more important for NATO than statements. "Words are just words, we need real results on the ground. Therefore, our main expectation is that the commitments made are fulfilled. Promises were made in The Hague, now they need to be implemented," he said.
Dragone noted that it would be unrealistic to expect all processes to be completed in one year, but said, "However, real steps must be taken to show that ideas and statements are turning into concrete results." He also expressed that he expects stronger commitments to continue support for Ukraine as long as necessary and determination to maintain the positive momentum in the defense industry.
Assessment of the US role in Europe
Touching on the possibility of the US reducing its military presence in Europe, Dragone said he believes Europe can fill this gap. "In my view, this imbalance was evident a year ago as well, and we are already working to restructure our defense posture. Investments in the NATO structure are increasing. Of course, there are areas that require time, they cannot be changed overnight, but I believe we will overcome them," he said.
Stressing that the current momentum must be maintained, the Admiral said, "Significant steps have been taken on investments. Progress has also been made in taking responsibility for the defense of one's own territory. I think we are in a good position. I believe Ankara will further strengthen this determination among allied countries."
Türkiye sets an example for other allies
Responding to a question about Türkiye's role in NATO, Dragone said Türkiye is a strong ally with the alliance's second largest army. "That is of course a strength. But beyond that, its geographic location is of tremendous importance. It sits right at the center of the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Middle East regions. Both geographically and militarily, Türkiye is already carrying out an extremely important mission. I recently visited Turkish defense industry facilities. It was truly impressive," he said.
Dragone stated that he believes Türkiye will become even stronger in the future and will set an example for other allied countries with its leading position in defense industry investment, production speed, and procurement. "Geographically, Türkiye is located on the alliance's borders, but on many key issues it is at the very center of NATO. We trust Türkiye and are pleased to have it among our allies," he said.
Admiral Dragone concluded by stressing that Türkiye's security issues should be resolved among allies on the basis of trust, saying: "If we continue to trust each other as we do today, I believe this will be a decisive factor for the entire alliance. '32' is not just a number. If we can truly use all the advantages this number offers, its meaning will go far beyond a simple count."
