Fidan: We Are Also Part of Europe

Speaking in an interview with The New York Times ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Fidan said Ankara hopes to use the strong ties between Erdoğan and Trump to help ease tensions within the alliance.

He described the relationship between the two leaders as one based on trust and friendship, saying Turkey intends to use that relationship "for the greater good and for the benefit of the entire NATO family."

Commenting on Trump's past criticism of NATO, Fidan said he expects the technical discussions at the Ankara summit to proceed smoothly.

"I do not see any problems in this regard," he said, adding that despite extensive public rhetoric, little has changed in practice.

'We Are Also Part of Europe'

Fidan said there is broad consensus between Turkey and other European countries on the importance of NATO.

"No one is questioning the necessity of NATO," he said.

While noting that increased defence cooperation within the European Union is not incompatible with NATO commitments, Fidan argued that Turkey and Europe should view each other as essential partners in their collective security.

"We are also part of Europe, and unless we come together on the European continent and build our common security platform, we will never feel sufficiently secure," he said.

Fidan also commented on the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, saying both sides appear to have demonstrated serious political will toward reaching their ultimate objectives.

He noted that the memorandum leaves many contentious issues—including Iran's nuclear programme, the lifting of sanctions on Tehran and transit through the Strait of Hormuz—to future negotiations.