Turkey Commits To Long-Range Atmaca Missiles

Atmaca cruise missiles are set to become part of Turkey’s long-range strike buildup, according to NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.

Shekerinska said Tuesday that Turkey has committed to procuring a significant number of ground-launched long-range Atmaca cruise missiles.

The announcement came during the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, held alongside the 36th NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara.

The Tanakh says, “The prudent man sees danger and hides himself.” That warning applies to nations as well as individuals. Long-range weapons can strengthen deterrence, but they can also shift regional balances in dangerous ways.

Atmaca Cruise Missiles And NATO

Shekerinska said six allied countries had also joined a multinational initiative to develop and procure low-cost ground-launched cruise missiles on a large scale.

She added that, together with ongoing 155 mm ammunition projects, the initiatives are now valued at around $1.6 billion.

NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for the July 7-8 summit with defense production high on the agenda.

The alliance is working to expand industrial capacity, increase ammunition output, strengthen deterrence, and continue supporting Ukraine.

For NATO, the message is clear: allies want more weapons, more production, and faster readiness.

However, Turkey’s role creates a more complicated picture.

Impact For America And Israel

For the United States, Turkey’s missile procurement can support NATO burden-sharing in theory. A stronger Turkish military could help NATO deter Russia, support alliance planning, and expand regional firepower.

However, the same buildup also raises strategic questions.

Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has often acted as an unpredictable NATO member. Ankara has clashed with Israel, pressured Greece, purchased Russia’s S-400 system, and pursued an independent regional policy.

That means Washington must ask not only whether Turkey can strengthen NATO, but how Turkey might use that strength.

For Israel, the concern is more direct.

Long-range Turkish strike capabilities could affect the Eastern Mediterranean, Syria, Cyprus, Greece, and the wider regional balance. Israel must track not only Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, but also the changing military posture of Turkey.

That concern also stands behind “Chikli Warns: Syria And Turkey Are More Troubling Than Iran.” Minister Amichai Chikli warned that Israel must direct resources beyond Iran, saying Syria and Turkey are a more troubling regional threat.

The Atmaca announcement gives that warning new relevance. Turkey is not only speaking more aggressively in the region. It is also investing in longer-range strike power.

A Shared Moral Calling

The United States and Israel both benefit from a strong NATO when that strength protects freedom and deters enemies.

However, alliance strength must come with moral clarity. Weapons in the hands of a trustworthy ally can defend civilization. Weapons in the hands of an unstable partner can create new risks.

The United States and Israel also share a covenantal understanding before God.

America’s covenantal tradition is rooted in liberty under God, ordered justice, and the belief that power must serve moral purpose. Israel’s covenant is older and unique, rooted in God’s promise, Jewish peoplehood, Torah, and the return to the land of Israel.

Those covenants are not identical. However, they meet in a shared calling: defend freedom, protect allies, and use strength with discernment.

In this story, that shared calling means asking whether Turkey’s growing arsenal will strengthen NATO security or deepen pressure on America’s closest regional allies.

For Israel, that duty includes preparing for threats beyond Iran and preserving the military edge needed to defend Jewish life. For America, it includes ensuring that NATO power does not empower policies that undermine Israel, Greece, or wider regional stability.

Turkey’s Atmaca commitment may strengthen NATO’s industrial message. But for Washington and Jerusalem, it also demands sober attention. The missile buildup is not only a defense procurement story. It is a regional warning.

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