https://arab.news/y4x7j
Turkiye has long insisted on being a part of Europe’s defense programs and having a say in how Europe shapes its security. Yet, for decades, European states viewed Turkiye mostly through the lens of its EU membership bid and political disagreements. But today, geopolitical matters — especially growing security threats — are shifting that perspective.
Now, both Ankara and Brussels recognize that they face similar security concerns. This growing sense of mutual insecurity was highlighted this month, when Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said that European allies must not only spend more on defense, but also do so wisely — by including Turkiye’s fast-growing defense industry in their planning.
Although many EU states have long been hesitant to increase their defense spending, US President Donald Trump pushed them to rethink and open their wallets. One major step was last month’s creation of a €150 billion ($173 billion) EU defense fund, known as the Security Action for Europe scheme, which is aimed at strengthening its arms industry.
A few years ago, the idea of integrating Turkish defense companies into Europe’s security systems might have seemed unrealistic. But several factors have changed that. Turkiye’s falling-out with the US over the F-35 program, increasing regional threats, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Europe’s doubts about long-term US security commitments have all helped bring Ankara and the EU closer together and make EU-Turkiye defense cooperation more appealing. The combination of these factors has created a major shift in their relationship, which is now reflected in more regular meetings between Turkish and European defense officials.
