German commander emphasizes Turkey's role in NATO

Evaluating the Steadfast Dart Exercise that concluded in Germany, Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank praised the support provided by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to NATO's deterrent power and defense.

Lieutenant General Sollfrank stated, “The TSK makes a very important contribution to the deterrence and defense of the NATO alliance. Their forces and capabilities are truly impressive and remarkable.”

Pointing out that all 32 NATO members play vital roles for the alliance, Sollfrank described the military capacity and capabilities possessed by the TSK as “impressive.”

Emphasizing that military exercises are of great importance in terms of preparedness and cooperation, Sollfrank said, “What is not exercised does not work.” He underscored that it is indispensable for defense that different countries come together to test procedures and joint working methods in practice.

The Lieutenant General also spoke about Germany's role in the exercise, stating that their country is tasked with supplying NATO's Allied Reaction Force and preparing it for new operations.

Touching upon the ongoing security threats in Eastern Europe, Sollfrank reported that they regularly face various operations in the information domain, as well as espionage, sabotage, and cyberattacks. Emphasizing that Russia has built up a large military capacity despite the current war in Ukraine, the Lieutenant General noted that the number of soldiers and stocks of military equipment in Russia are also being increased.

Referring to Russia's past military interventions against its neighbors, Sollfrank stated that the war that began in Ukraine in 2022 could also be considered a part of this whole.

“We are ready for war; we call this ‘Fight Tonight’,” the German commander said, expressing that the capacity of the Bundeswehr is being improved every day. Stating that they aim to reach 460 thousand soldiers in Germany, Sollfrank noted that they are focusing on modern weapon systems and ammunition investments.

Emphasizing that they have established a reinforcement and sustainment network in Germany and that national operation plans are ready, the Lieutenant General said, “We have a defense plan, we can implement it tomorrow. Everything is ready and we are improving it every day.”

News Source: 12punto