Turkey Ends 22-Year World Cup Drought, Joins NATO Drill, and Takes Command of Key Naval Force

**Turkey Ends 22-Year World Cup Drought, Joins NATO Drill, and Takes Command of Key Naval Force** Turkey is having a landmark week on the global stage. The national football team has ended a 22-year absence from the FIFA World Cup by qualifying for the 2026 tournament, while Turkish military forces are simultaneously commanding a major NATO naval strike force and deploying thousands of troops in the alliance’s largest exercises of the year. Turkey’s national football team secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 away victory against Kosovo in Pristina, ending a drought that had lasted since the 2002 tournament [117338]. The 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team field, will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026 [117338]. On the military front, Turkey assumed command of the NATO Amphibious Task Force and its Landing Force Command on July 1, a role it will hold until the end of June next year [54453]. This powerful naval group is designed to launch attacks from sea to land, including ships carrying troops, helicopters, and landing craft [54453]. Turkey is responsible for planning and leading NATO exercises and potential missions in the region as part of the alliance’s routine rotation of command duties [54453]. Simultaneously, the first Turkish military aircraft has landed in Germany for NATO’s largest exercise this year, Steadfast Defender 24, with approximately 2,000 Turkish troops deploying across Europe from February 8 to February 20 [70222]. Turkish naval and army units are also conducting joint amphibious operations in Germany as part of the large-scale NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2026, showcasing domestically produced defense platforms [80228]. Turkey has also joined a new international task force led by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to find and eliminate the final remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons program [106495]. The mission will provide specialized training, equipment, and technical support to safely detect, store, and destroy remaining chemical weapons materials, with Turkey’s participation seen as critical due to its border with Syria [106495]. In another development, a Turkish delegation is taking a central role in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s planned Spring 2026 mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the ongoing naval blockade, which has been in place since 2007 [132904]. Turkey Ends 22-Year Drought, Qualifies for 2026 FIFA World Cup Turkey Assumes Command of Key NATO Naval Strike Force NATO's Biggest 2024 Drill Begins with Turkish Troops Landing in Germany Turkish Forces Deploy Homegrown Tech in Major NATO Drill Turkey Joins Mission to Destroy Syria's Last Chemical Weapons Turkish Group Leads Effort to Break Gaza Blockade by Sea