Türkiye’s NATO Membership: Geostrategic and Intelligence Dynamics

Abstract

Security has always been a central issue for societies, and in the post-Cold War period the international security environment has changed dramatically. NATO, as the main defence organisation, has evolved with these changes while providing security to its member states. This paper discusses Türkiye’s position within NATO, highlighting its geostrategic importance and its contribution to NATO’s security and intelligence system. Türkiye’s geostrategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East offers a unique opportunity as a vital NATO asset. As the southern flank of the Alliance, Türkiye’s strategic location enables it to counter threats from the Middle East. The present research addresses how Türkiye’s geostrategic position has shaped its defence policy and its contribution to NATO’s collective defence. It also examines the intelligence sharing mechanisms between Türkiye and NATO, with a particular focus on their role in countering contemporary security threats such as terrorism and regional instability. In this study a qualitative data analysis methodology was used. Also, the study analyses historical documents, secondary sources and NATO publications to assess Türkiye’s changing contributions. The findings highlight Türkiye’s continued importance in NATO.