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NATO has urged improved relations between the EU and Türkiye. President Donald Trump is rapidly rethinking the alliance as he retreats from European security forces retreat from the continental capital.
NATO Secretary General Mark Latte personally urged EU leaders to strengthen their involvement with President Recept Tayyip Erdogan after years of tense relationships, officials explained his remarks.
It comes as Brussels explores ways to increase collaboration with Turkey and other non-EU neighbours as part of a massive scale-up of European defence capabilities.
There is a threat from Trump that US security guarantees are guaranteed to European NATO allies, and his move to resume ties with Russia and cut off support for Ukraine will surprise the EU capital. Not only are they rushing to increase defence spending, they also defend that some EU capitals are working in “ambitious coalitions” with non-EU countries such as Norway and the UK.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended a major European military gathering in London earlier this month to discuss support for Ukraine and wider defense issues.
It follows a plea from Latte at a private lunch with EU leaders in early February, which he urged the increased importance of increasing cooperation with Turkey and to work with Ankara to make it work, according to the three who explained the debate.
A spokesman for Latte, a former Dutch prime minister, declined to comment after he had a violent clash with Erdogan during his tenure. The NATO Secretary-General told the European Parliament in January that “non-EU allies involved in the efforts of the EU defence industry are essential for Europe’s security.”
“Things change. A senior EU official on its relationship with Turkey said: “But they also need to sort out the ambiguity towards Russia.”
Turkey has not joined the EU or other western allies to impose direct sanctions on Moscow in response to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and maintains strong economic and energy ties with Russia. Athens points out Turkey’s lack of participation in the sanctions regime.
While direct involvement in EU defense and security issues is limited to areas such as military mobility and peacekeeping and surveillance missions, BLOC has a key financial lever to shape defence industry collaboration.
Turkey’s key arms industry is a factor in a broader contest in the Member States over whether third-nation defense companies should benefit from EU initiatives to increase arms spending. The push to increase engagement with Ankara is aimed at bilateral relations with the EU capital, officials said.
Turkey is technically a candidate for joining the EU, but the process has long been a MO-death. The block has halted various channels of conversation related to security and defense due to a surge in tensions with Greece.
A Greek diplomat said Athens remained “cautious, not dogmatic” about increasing defensive cooperation with Ankara. “Turkey must be constructive in addressing the prominent issues with its member states,” he added, referring to Greece and Cyprus.
EU member Cyprus has been split since Turkey invaded the north in response to an Athens-inspired coup intended to unite Greece and the island, but it is one of the biggest obstacles to deepening relations. Turkish officials argue that the island’s situation with over 1 million people has an initiative to expand cooperation on European security issues.
Trump’s arrival changed perspective, several diplomats told the Financial Times.
“We are currently determining the best course of action,” Fidan told FT last week when asked about Trump’s potential impact on European security arrangements. “If that becomes a new European security structure, we are ready to work together.”
