In Ankara this week it is not only NATO members meeting to discuss and align continuing efforts to strengthen European defence industry transformation – the broader industrial community is also standing up and being counted.
On the back of notable successes in Europe in recent years and with realistic prospects of more in the not-too-distant future, Hanwha Aerospace is prominent among industrials participating in the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, being held as part of the Allies in Ankara programme alongside the NATO Summit. The company is committed to investment, localisation and long-term partnership strategies that strengthen sovereign defence capabilities while contributing to Europe’s broader defence industrial resilience. “Technology delivers its greatest value when it is built on trust, shared purpose, and strong partnerships. That is why our vision extends beyond platforms and systems. We are committed to strengthening sovereign capabilities, fostering industrial cooperation, and contributing to a stronger and more resilient NATO ecosystem,” said Hanwha Aerospace Europe President, Jacek Cyrek, addressing the forum.
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With current localised manufacturing and technology programmes in Poland and Romania, with others under development in both northern and western parts of the continent, Hanwha epitomises the nature of the ‘trusted defence industrial partner’ ethos that is rapidly becoming part of Europe’s internal dialogue as well as its relations with regions closely linked to its own security – such as the Indo-Pacific. The fact that South Korea’s President, Lee Jae Myung, suggested in his keynote address to the NATO Defence Industry Forum that a ‘Korea-NATO Defence Industry Partnership 2.0’ be enabled should be seen as proof positive of that nation’s commitment to supporting the interconnected nature of global defence. Founded on a vision of securing the Atlantic area, NATO has become a global force in the last three quarters of a century, as the geopolitical dynamic has altered It now needs to live up to its changing vision and will do so more easily – and more effectively – with support from outside European borders.
Headline image shows Jacek Cyrek, President of Hanwha Aerospace Europe, addressing the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Ankara today. (Hanwha Aerospace)
