Former Minister of Youth and Sports, AK Party Izmir Deputy Dr. Mehmet Kasapoğlu, in his statement after the 70th NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Annual Meeting held between 22-25 November, said, “Our efforts to increase stability in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans are vital for the security of NATO’s southern flank and global peace.” “It is important,” he said.
AK Party member Kasapoğlu returned to Turkey from Montréal, Canada, where he went to attend the 70th NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Annual Meeting. Member of the Turkish Delegation, Dr., participated in the talks with high participation of the Turkish delegation. Mehmet Kasapoğlu, in his statement upon his return from the meeting, said, “Together with more than 260 parliamentarians from NATO member and partner countries, we discussed global security threats and had important discussions about the future of the alliance.”
Stating that issues such as NATO’s transformation process, increasing resilience against authoritarian regimes, strengthening NATO’s defense capacity, global conflicts, security threats in the Western Balkans and the Black Sea, and innovations in defense technologies were prioritized at the meeting, Dr. Kasapoğlu said, “Turkey, “It is an indispensable actor for NATO’s regional and global effectiveness. Our efforts to increase stability in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans are of vital importance for the security of NATO’s southern flank and global peace.” he said.
“We contribute to the alliance against hybrid threats”
Dr. Regarding the attack types that have changed shape in recent years, Kasapoğlu said, “We are at the forefront of the fight against hybrid threats. We are both developing strong mechanisms at the national level and deepening cooperation with our allies to deal with modern threats such as cyber attacks, disinformation and economic manipulation.” Kasapoğlu also stated that Turkey uses its defense budget optimally for the sake of peace and said, “We contribute to the technological superiority of the alliance with our investments in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.”
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic”
Drawing attention to the genocide in Gaza and the Ukraine-Russia war, Kasapoğlu said, “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Israel’s aggression should not overshadow the severe conditions faced by civilians in Gaza. Israel is trying to alleviate hunger and poverty among civilians in a controlled manner.” “We are actively fighting against destabilization attempts all over the world, especially in our geography. We continue our efforts to ensure security and stability by strengthening our cooperation with our allies.”
Congratulating Portuguese Marcos Perestrello who was elected as the new NATO PA President, Dr. Mehmet Kasapoğlu stated that they are determined to strengthen Turkey’s strategic role and contributions in the alliance during the term of the new president. – IZMIR
