NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended Türkiye as a “very valuable member of NATO” in response to criticism by far-right French politician Jordan Bardella during a European Parliament session. Bardella accused Turkey of leveraging NATO and playing a role in the migration crisis.

Rutte highlighted Turkey’s crucial role in the 2016 refugee agreement, which reduced the number of Syrian refugees entering Europe, stating, “Türkiye defends its interests, just like other nations within NATO. It remains a valuable ally.”