Pakistan, July 8 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged NATO allies to remove defence-industry restrictions and strengthen military cooperation during the alliance's summit in Ankara. He warned that excluding non-European Union members from defence initiatives could weaken NATO unity. Erdogan also called for a peaceful resolution to the Iran crisis and offered Turkey's support for mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Addressing NATO leaders on Wednesday, Erdogan said artificial barriers among allies should be eliminated to improve defence cooperation. He argued that restricting participation in European defence projects would create unnecessary divisions within the alliance. The Turkish president stressed that NATO ...