Mark Rutte: S-400 Issue is a Bilateral Matter Between Turkey and the United States

During the 36th NATO summit hosted in Ankara, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte adopted a diplomatic stance to manage long-standing tensions among members. Responding to journalists' questions regarding the Russian S-400 missile system, which led to Turkey's expulsion from the F-35 fighter jet program, he clarified that this is a bilateral issue between Turkey and the United States, and NATO as an organization will not interfere directly [1].

S-400: A Knot to be Untied by Washington and Ankara Rutte emphasized in his remarks that while NATO oversees the integration of members' air defenses, the details regarding the purchase of the S-400 system and its consequences, including CAATSA sanctions, are matters to be resolved in direct negotiations between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump [1][3]. These statements come as U.S. President Donald Trump, during his meetings in Ankara, spoke of the possibility of lifting these sanctions and Turkey's return to the F-35 program [2]. With this position, Rutte shifted the summit's focus from past disputes toward NATO's future priorities, including increasing defense production and collective deterrence [3].

Firm Support for Strikes Against Iran Another part of Mark Rutte's controversial remarks was dedicated to developments in the Middle East and Iran. The NATO Secretary General supported recent United States strikes on positions in Iran, calling them "absolutely necessary" to weaken Tehran's nuclear and missile capabilities [2][3]. Rutte noted that Iran's actions pose a threat to regional, European, and global security, and a decisive U.S. response is vital for maintaining international stability [3]. He also called on European allies to take more responsibility for securing shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz [2].

Turkey: NATO's Crisis Manager in the Region In another part of his speech, the NATO Secretary General described Turkey as the "primary crisis manager" in the region and praised Recep Tayyip Erdogan's role in preventing the escalation of tensions in the Middle East [2]. Rutte emphasized that the capabilities of Turkey's defense industry, including companies like Aselsan, have now become a major pillar of NATO's power [1]. Referring to the increase in European allies' defense budgets to 4-5% of GDP, he described this trend as a great victory for the cohesion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [3]. This summit, held in an atmosphere of both fear and hope, reflects NATO's efforts to redefine its role against emerging threats and strengthen transatlantic cooperation.