Arda Karakaya

Head of Plans NATO Operations Division

Arda Karakaya has a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Relations from Bilkent University. He joined the NATO International Staff in February 2022 as Head of Plans in the Operations Division. His portfolio includes NATO’s deterrence and defence plans. He supervises the provision of Situational Awareness as well as Geo and Space Services to NATO HQ. Arda served as Defence Counsellor in the Turkish Permanent Delegation to NATO from 2017 to 2022. Joining the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005, he served in embassies in Madrid and Bucharest where his portfolio included defence and regional security issues. During his tours in Ankara, he held positions in the Undersecretary’s Cabinet and the Middle East division. Before coming to NATO, he was special advisor to Turkey’s G20 Sherpa during the Australian, Turkish and Chinese presidencies. He is married with three children, he speaks English and Spanish.