Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler:

While most European countries downsized their armed forces after the Cold War, Türkiye did not.

Instead, it maintained a much larger active-duty, professional military.

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler:

In the defense sector, Türkiye advocates complementarity rather than competition or exclusion.

The Alliance's security is not strengthened through restrictions, but through solidarity and a shared vision.

French President Macron and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

📸 French President Macron and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus.

NOW: NATO's Rutte in Ankara:

Today several allies are officially announcing the forthcoming delivery of the 10th Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft.

This brings us one step closer to the full MRTT fleet of 12 aircraft.

Ukraine's Budanov on Poland:

Interviewer: From the Ukrainian side, can anything be done to escalate? Or are we already doing everything?

Budanov: Well, if we acknowledge that someone is taking immature steps, why should we respond? Not respond—but make false steps forward.

They’ll make their move; we’ll see, and we’ll respond. Nobody will stay silent.

Interviewer: As in the larger context of the war, as you said, there will be a build-up of escalation, then de-escalation. Should we expect the same here?

Budanov: Peak escalation always leads either to catastrophe or to de-escalation. I hope we move toward de-escalation.

Source: RBC-Ukraine

NOW: NATO allies are signing contracts for Triton high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft to strengthen NATO's ISR force.

NOW: NATO allies sign contracts to jointly procure up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, snubbing Boeing.

BREAKING: Two explosions reported near Syria's Tourism Ministry in Damascus.

Source: Al Jazeera

India's Modi:

On the issue of Palestine, we support a two-state solution and long-term peace.

Ukraine's Budanov on Belarus:

Interviewer: There is another neighbor—now definitely hostile: Belarus. Lately, it feels like Belarus has become a bit too present in Ukrainian life.

It’s constantly Lukashenko this, something from Belarus that… So Lukashenko heard our warnings, right?

Budanov: Judging by everything, he did. But in general, I take the Belarus issue more calmly, and we should not create another enemy for ourselves.

I don’t mean that we ourselves are escalating or exaggerating anything. No. But having another enemy and another combat zone is definitely not in our interest.

So the fact that they heard us is a very correct step.

Source: RBC-Ukraine

Ukraine's Budanov: We can keep fighting Russia for years

Interviewer: And if the peace process and all the negotiations do not lead to anything concrete, how much longer can both we and the aggressor keep fighting?

Budanov: We can keep fighting—believe me—for years.

Interviewer: Years? Five?

Budanov: Why are you saying five?

Interviewer: Well, you need some kind of benchmark—more or less.

Here has always been this traditional, stereotypical view—especially before the full-scale invasion—that Russia has an enormous amount of resources: territory, people, forests, oil…

Budanov: That stereotype is true. If we are talking about Ukraine alone and Russia alone, then yes, you are right. But we are not alone.

And that is what I am telling you: the main thing is that we do not lose our friends, partners, and allies.

Source: RBC-Ukraine

Meanwhile, Macron is welcomed by Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa at the People's Palace in Damascus.

The Élysée says French President Macron did not hear any explosions while en route to meet the Syrian President at the People's Palace in Damascus.

Élysée confirms Macron is safe and unharmed, and his visit continues as scheduled.

French President Macron and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa are together in Damascus.

Both are safe.

NATO's Rutte in Ankara:

We will launch a counter-drone marketplace.

The aim is to help procure counter-drone capabilities at scale and speed.