THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Are Turkish-Russian ties collapsing, or returning to old normal? Recent essays by Gonul Tol, a DC-based Turkish think-tanker, inThe New York TimesandForeign Affairsmake a compelling case that Türkiye is steadily aligning its strategic interests more closely with NATO. Crucially, Tol highlights that Russia’s room for maneuver has narrowed significantly across key sectors of the Middle East. There is evidence for that reading. Russia has less leverage in Syria than it had under Bashar al-Assad, although it remains part of the Syrian equation. Simultaneously, Ankara is actively reducing its energy exposure to Moscow and intensifying collaboration with its Western allies on critical defense files. The conclusion, however, needs more qualification. These changes do not show that the Turkish-Russian relationship is ending. They show that an unusual phase in that relationship is losing its force. Ankara is not returning to the alliance system it had fully left. It never did. Türkiye remained a NATO member, kept strong trade and investment links with Europe, continued to use Euro-Atlantic defense procurement channels, and maintained its legal position on Ukraine’s territorial integrity…

Türkiye-EU Relations Amidst Shifting Global Order Türkiye and the European Union (EU) continue to navigate a vital yet increasingly transactional relationship. Türkiye’s membership talks have in effect been frozen for the past decade. Brussels has continuously reported increasing censorship, authoritarian tendencies, and a deterioration in the rule of law in Türkiye. From the EU’s point of view, Türkiye has strayed from European integration and in effect is only an EU candidate in name. Stalled membership talks, however, point to more than a discord due to democratic backsliding and domestic decision-making in Türkiye. The EU and Türkiye are also engaged in a geopolitical rivalry across several regional and global fault lines, with Ankara’s geopolitical posturing often putting it at odds with European leadership. Türkiye’s regional policy, particularly its activist energy and security policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, has seen rivalries re-surface since 2016. The EU’s leadership has remained committed to Greek and Greek Cypriot positions as Türkiye has increased its strategic footprint in the area and acted more assertively to protect its interests in maritime zones. Nonetheles…

Turkey's delicate balancing act: Mediating between the West ... While the conflict rages on and signs of its long-term impacts on the international system are gradually taking shape, Russia’s war in Ukraine has irreversibly changed the geopolitical map of Europe and triggered major consequences globally. With most Western countries lining up to support Kyiv against Moscow’s aggression, it is inevitable that the conflict’s fallout has spilled over the regional context and assumed an international dimension. As the war’s shockwaves reverberate from the Middle East to South-East Asia, there is little that countries can do to isolate themselves from the dramatic military escalation wreaking havoc in Eastern Europe. Though gruesome war scenes and mounting political polarization make it challenging to think about heading toward a post-conflict phase, it is of paramount importance to develop a viable mediation track capable of elaborating a political solution. Promoting mediation efforts and preventing the conflict from turning into an endless war of attrition – with countries freezing on irreconcilable positions or, even worse, scaling up tensions by resorting to tactical nuclear weapon…

Strategic Autonomy and the Deepening Türkiye -Russia Relationship ... Türkiye’s deepening relationship with Russia is reshaping the regional security landscape and challenging NATO’s strategic cohesion. From trilateral cooperation in Syria’s Astana Process to the controversial S-400 missile system and major energy projects like TurkStream and Akkuyu, Ankara’s pursuit of strategic autonomy continues to raise questions about alliance unity and energy dependency. The Astana Process, initiated in 2017 by Iran, Russia, and Türkiye has played a pivotal role in managing the Syrian civil war, despite the trio’s divergent interests. While Russia and Iran have supported the Assad regime, Türkiye has backed various opposition groups. This collaboration, though fraught with complexities, has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the conflict. The Astana Process emerged as an alternative to the United Nations (UN)-led Geneva talks, aiming to reduce hostilities and establish de-escalation zones in Syria. Russia’s primary goal was to legitimize the Assad regime and consolidate its military gains. Iran sought to maintain its influence in Syria, ensuring continued accessibility to Hezbo…

Turkey Expands Reach as Security Partner - Africa Defense Forum Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link From coast to coast, Turkey is working to forge ties with African nations, often as a security partner for weapons purchases and military training, and as an investor in infrastructure projects. Turkey believes it can position itself as an alternative option able to negotiate sophisticated military deals without any of the drawbacks of partnering with China, Russia or traditional Western allies. “Ankara acts as a unique geopolitical hybrid: a NATO member with NATO-standard military capabilities, yet a diplomat that speaks the language of the Global South,” Göktuğ Çalışkan, a foreign policy analyst at the Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies, wrote for the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah. Due partly to Ankara’s flexibility in exporting drone technology, Turkish arms company Baykar now counts Angola, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Togo and Tunisia among its clients. These drones are prominently deployed in several conflict zones. In December 2024, Baykar launched a project to build and maintain mult…

France weighs up resetting Turkey ties as Europe's security landscape shifts <article data-history-node-id="443557" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/france-weighs-resetting-turkey-ties-europe-security-shifts" class="story default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/france-weighs-resetting-turkey-ties-europe-security-shifts" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">France weighs up resetting Turkey ties as Europe's security landscape shifts</span> </a> </h2> <footer> <div class="author"> Submitted by <span class="field field-uid"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/ragip-soylu" lang about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/ragip-soylu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>Ragip Soylu</a></span> on <span class="field field-created"><time datetime="2026-07-03T15:30:09+01:00" title="3 July 2026 15:30 BST">Fri, 07/03/2026 - 15:30</time> </span> </div> </footer> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-subhead">A possible thaw between Paris and Ankara is being shaped by Russia,…

The Current Relationship between NATO, TURKIYE, and the USA By SAL SAYGIN SIMSEK (April 11, 2025) NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has faced challenges in recent years, including debates over its relevance, funding, and the commitment of member states. Some critics argue that shifting global dynamics and internal disagreements have weakened the alliance. The United States is the backbone of NATO, wielding unparalleled influence within the alliance. It contributes the largest share of NATO’s budget and possesses the most advanced military capabilities, including nuclear deterrence, cutting-edge technology, and global reach. The U.S. military’s presence in Europe, with bases and troops stationed across the continent, reinforces NATO’s collective defense strategy. Beyond its military strength, the U.S. plays a pivotal role in shaping NATO’s policies and strategic direction. Turkiye holds significant power within NATO due to its strategic location, military strength, and diplomatic influence. As a member since 1952, Turkiye has NATO’s second-largest army, providing substantial manpower for defense and operations. Its geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, A…

Stable, terror-free Syria top priority for Türkiye, Fidan tells US Saturday December 14, 2024 Ankara is committed to ensuring stability in Syria and preventing terrorist domination, Foreign Minister Fidan told his U.S. counterpart Blinken as the two top diplomats discussed Turkish and American roles in ensuring Syria’s future after the fall of Assad. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L), Ankara, Türkiye, Dec. 13, 2024. (AA Photo) Türkiye’s priority is ensuring stability in Syria and preventing the Daesh and PKK terror groups from gaining a foothold there following the ouster of Bashar Assad, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday.Speaking alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the capital of Ankara, Fidan said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a cease-fire for Gaza.Blinken also said he saw "encouraging signs" of progress toward a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, urging Türkiye to use its influence to encourage Hamas to accept."We discussed Gaza, and we discussed, I think, the opportunity ... to get a c…

Erdogan and Macron Discuss Major Air Defense Deal | BGNES Erdogan and Macron Discuss Major Air Defense Deal 18.05.2026 - 17:35 Share BGNES SAMP/T is produced by Eurosam — a French-Italian joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales. The system is designed to protect military forces and strategic facilities from aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron are holding talks on a major air defense agreement that could pave the way for the purchase and joint production in Turkey of the French-Italian SAMP/T Mamba system, Intelligence Online reported. The Paris-based intelligence and defense publication said the potential deal is likely to be among the key topics ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July in Ankara. According to the report, plans for the joint production of the SAMP/T system in Turkey are “beginning to take concrete shape” after years of delays in Ankara’s efforts to acquire a European air and missile defense system. SAMP/T is produced by Eurosam — a French-Italian joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales. The system is designed to protect military forc…

Turkey must be ‘included’ in European security structures: Erdogan ahead of NATO summit Turkey must be included in all of Europe’s defense and security structures, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday, a week ahead of a key NATO summit in Ankara.His remarks come as Europe seeks to revamp its defenses in light of the threat from Russia and the risk of a US pullback from NATO, as the military alliance gears up for a key summit in the Turkish capital on July 7-8.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.At issue is Turkey’s access to the European Union’s 150-billion-euro ($176-billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, a scheme key to strengthening European defense capabilities.“Turkey’s indispensable contributions to European security are sometimes overlooked,” Erdogan told parliamentary delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul, saying Turkey wanted “to participate in all defense and security initiatives” on the continent.“We expect your support, lawmakers, for Turkey’s inclusion in the defense and

Turkey Stakes its Claim in the Ukraine Peace Process Source: Getty Turkey is positioning itself as a key player in a postwar reassurance force for Ukraine, especially in the Black Sea. But Ankara’s relationships with Moscow and Washington mean it faces a tough choice. As different options are discussed to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and predicting an outcome remains impossible, Turkey is tentatively staking its claim as a key player to support a ceasefire and provide security guarantees. But Ankara’s relationships with Kyiv and Moscow are both help and hindrance. French President Emmanuel Macron cited Turkey—along with the United Kingdom and France—as apotential leading playerin the much-discussedreassurance forcefor Ukraine, stating: "There are British, French, Turkish soldiers who, the day peace is signed, so not in a context of war, are there to conduct training and security operations, as we do in certain countries on NATO’s Eastern flank." Turkey has the second largest armed forces in the alliance but, perhaps more importantly for Ukraine, it is the gatekeeper of the Black Sea and has naval capacities that can protect Ukrainian shipping and exports from ports like Odesa. …

The EU and Türkiye: A relationship adrift | Centre for European Reform A plethora of disagreements haunt EU-Türkiye relations. Without a positive vision, things may only get worse. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has revived EU enlargement. European leaders often talk about enlargement as a ‘geopolitical necessity’. However, the rhetoric on enlargement never extends to Türkiye: Ankara’s accession process ground to a halt soon after it started in 2005 and was formally frozen by the EU in 2018. For a time, it seemed as if Russia’s invasion could also revive EU-Türkiye relations, which hadbeen in a downward spiral for over a decade. But the promise of change was short-lived. A plethora of disagreements haunt EU-Türkiye relations. Without a positive vision, things may only get worse. When Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğancondemned Russia’s actionsand Türkiye provided valuable military support to Ukraine, particularly drones. Ankara closed the Dardanelles to Russian ships, hosted exploratory peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and succeeded in brokering a deal on Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. However, Türkiye …

Türkiye's role in NATO will grow further: Dutch defense chief Dutch Chief of Defense Onno Eichelsheim said Türkiye's role in NATO will grow as the U.S. withdraws some military capabilities and European allies take on greater responsibility within the alliance. Speaking to Anadolu during a visit to Ankara ahead of the July 7-8 NATO Summit, Eichelsheim said Türkiye would be needed to help address capability gaps left by Washington. "As the U.S. withdraws some of its capabilities, we will also need Türkiye to meet these shortfalls. That is why Türkiye's role within NATO will grow even further," he said. Eichelsheim also said he was impressed by the level reached by Türkiye's defense industry and saw major cooperation opportunities between the two countries. "I spent a day in Türkiye with Türkiye's defense industry companies, and I was truly impressed by the level of capability they demonstrated," he said. The NATO summit, to be held in Ankara on July 7 and 8, will focus on steps taken regarding the decision to increase defense investments and the alliance's deterrence and defense efforts, Türkiye's Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Sunday. Duran said leaders are ex…

Ankara 2026: NATO Between Deterring Russia, Turkey's Rise, and the ... International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies(IFIMES)[1], based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyzes developments in the Middle East, the Balkans, and other regions worldwide. In his analysis, “Ankara 2026: NATO Between Deterring Russia, Turkey’s Rise, and the Assertion of National Interest,” General (Retd.)Corneliu Pivariuexamines the strategic significance of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara. He argues that the summit reflects NATO's transformation into an alliance capable of addressing multiple interconnected security challenges, while highlighting Turkey's growing geopolitical importance, the evolving Euro-Atlantic security architecture, and the need for member states, particularly Romania, to reconcile Allied solidarity with the effective promotion of their national interests. “In the multipolar era, security no longer depends solely on the strength of alliances, but also on the wisdom with which they adapt their objectives to a world in constant transformation.« The NATO Summit in Ankara (7–8 July 2026) takes place against a strategic backdrop marked by the convergence of profound trans…

Business Take on Türkiye-EU Relations in 2024 - Global Panorama The international order is undergoing profound transformation. Geopolitical fragmentation, the resurgence of populism, and the externalization of migration challenges have undermined global cooperation. Simultaneously, economic pressures and technological disruptions are redefining power structures. Europe is at a critical juncture, facing intensifying competition in strategic sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and clean energy technologies. These areas are pivotal not only for Europe’s economic competitiveness but also for its security architecture and strategic autonomy. As Turkish business community, we believe that the challenges faced by Türkiye, the EU, and the broader transatlantic community are deeply interconnected. Both, the EU and Türkiye face the task of balancing innovation-driven developments with normative values, addressing rising socioeconomic tensions, and building resilience against external shocks. Within this context, the relationship between Türkiye and the EU is not merely a bilateral matter but a strategic imperative for both sides. The prevailing sentiment from the bus…

Türkiye ahead of the 2026 NATO summit: Strategic partner or difficult ally? The real question is whether NATO can adapt to allies that are becoming more autonomous while simultaneously becoming more important to European security. Read more: defence24.com/geopolitics/...

Turkey's Quiet Realignment - Foreign Affairs Turkey’s Quiet Realignment Russia’s Loss Is NATO’s Gain Gonul Tol June 10, 2026 Russian and Turkish delegations at a summit in Tianjin, China, September 2025 Vladimir Smirnov / Reuters GONUL TOL is Director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkish Program and the author of Erdogan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria . More by Gonul Tol Listen Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Share & Download Print Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Save Sign in and save to read later Close Share Turkey’s Quiet Realignment Russia’s Loss Is NATO’s Gain Gonul Tol Share in email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Copy Link Copied Article link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/turkey/turkeys-quiet-realignment https://www.foreignaffairs.com/turkey/turkeys-quiet-realignment Copy Gift Link Copied This is a subscriber-only feature. Subscribe now or Sign in . Create Citation Copied Chicago MLA APSA APA Chicago Cite not available at the moment MLA Cite not available at the moment APSA Cite not available at the moment APA Cite not available at the moment Download PDF This is a subscriber-only feature. Subscribe now or …

Facing Internal Strife, Syria Turns to Turkiye for Military Support ... Facing Internal Strife, Syria Turns to Turkiye for Military Support: How Did Ankara Respond? Reports The request came amid threats to Syria’s territorial unity. Also From the Gulf to Europe Through Syria: The New Project Alarming Israeli Occupation Where Is Bolivia Headed After Declaring a State of Emergency? Luxury Projects and Big Money: Why Investors Are Pouring Into Syria’s Yaafour District ‘America First’ Meets ‘Israel First’ : How War on Iran Is Redrawing a Historic Alliance The Road to the 2026 Knesset: Who Will Survive Israeli Occupation’s Toughest Election Battle? The Road to the 2026 Knesset: Who Will Survive Israeli Occupation’s Toughest Election Battle? a year ago 12 Print Share The new Syrian government has officially taken its first practical steps to boost defense capabilities through neighboring Turkiye, the largest regional ally supporting the country’s stability and preventing its division amid rising internal challenges. Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the new Syrian administration officially requested Ankara’s support to strengthen its defenses and fight terrorist groups,…

NATO Signals Türkiye’s ASELSAN Solutions Alongside U.S. in the … NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited ASELSAN’s Gölbaşı Technology Base in Ankara, using the occasion to underscore the Alliance’s growing focus on defence industrial capacity, layered protection and multi-domain capability integration. The visit highlighted NATO’s recognition of Türkiye’s ASELSAN as an increasingly important contributor, alongside U.S. and allied industrial strength, to the Alliance’s emerging layered defence architecture. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited, on 22 April 2026, ASELSAN’s Gölbaşı Technology Base in Ankara in a move that elevated a high-level industrial stop into a broader marker of NATO’s evolving defence priorities. As the Alliance looks beyond spending targets toward integrated, scalable and combat-relevant capabilities able to counter missiles, drones, electronic attack and rapidly shifting regional threats, ASELSAN’s presentation carried particular strategic weight. By showcasing system architectures aligned with layered air defence, electronic warfare and multi-domain integration, the visit underscored the type of capabilities NATO increasingly values. More than a visi…

The Role of Turkey in a Future European Security Order © picture alliance / Hans Lucas | POOL UNION EUROPEENNE / AGENCE HANS LUCAS Turkey’s Role in the Future European Security Architecture SWP Comment 2025/C 36, 07.08.2025, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2025C36 in: Instituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), 12.03.2026 © picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Bernat Armangue In light of ongoing changes in Europe’s security architecture resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this report investigates Finnish and Swedish views on Turkey’s place in the emerging arrangements. The report finds that the difficult experience with Turkey during the NATO accession process negatively impacted perceptions of Turkey in both countries, and that there are real divergences between them and Turkey with regard to perceptions and interests. On the other hand, Finnish and Swedish foreign policy and national security officials today acknowledge Turkey’s importance as a military power as well as the benefits of maintaining constructive relations with Ankara. The increasing unreliability of the United States as an ally can further underlin…

Alliance evolving: The Ankara Summit and NATO Readiness Foreword For a sense of how important the US-Turkey relationship is in this fractious geopolitical moment, consider President Donald Trump’s recent Oval Office comments about the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara: “If not for the fact that it was being held in Turkey by President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, I don’t think I would have gone to it.” While the personal rapport between Trump and Erdogan is a significant factor in strengthening ties today, the two countries need to transition beyond transactional diplomacy into a deeper, institutionalized security partnership. This special Ankara summit edition of the US-Turkey Defense Journal by the Atlantic Council Turkey Program provides a roadmap to do just that. Start with the defense industrial base. Turkey’s rapid emergence as a global defense powerhouse in pioneering next-generation unmanned aerial systems, complex naval engineering, and resilient supply chain networks presents an unprecedented opportunity for cooperation. By combining American technological depth and scale with Turkish manufacturing agility and engineering, the two countries can strengthen both their national cap…

Europe relies on Türkiye for future of NATO: Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Türkiye is an anchor country that can form its opinions separately from other members of the NATO alliance, and this may be helpful as the Europea...

Türkiye opens talks with Italy for SAMP/T air defense acquisition to ... Türkiye has opened negotiations with Italy to acquire and co-produce the SAMP/T long-range air and missile defense system, aiming to accelerate deployment of its national Steel Dome architecture and strengthen upper-tier interception capability. This follows recent Iranian missile launches toward Turkish territory, highlighting gaps in long-range air defense and reinforcing the need for a sovereign, multi-layered protection system integrated with NATO networks. The talks involve potential integration of SAMP/T batteries alongside systems such as Patriot and indigenous platforms within Türkiye’s southeastern defense infrastructure. The acquisition is strategically significant as it enhances ballistic missile defense, reduces reliance on allied coverage, and improves interoperability and readiness across NATO’s southern flank. Read also:Türkiye seeks French approval for SAMP/T air defense system to achieve national Steel Dome project The discussions with Italy, which follow similar talks with France in June 2025, are also based on a January 2018 agreement with Eurosam that initiated an 18-month feasibility s…

EU-Türkiye relations: between cooperation and tensions | Topics Tensions over democracy, human rights and migration have led to a rethink of EU-Türkiye relations. What is the status of the cooperation? Without clear and significant progress on EU-related reforms, Parliament cannot envisage resumingaccession negotiations with Türkiye, MEPs warned on 7 June 2022 MEPs said that in spite of Türkiye's repeated statements that it aims to become an EU member, over the past two years the country has consistently gone back on its commitments in relation to the accession process. However, they did welcome the country’s willingness to act as a mediator in the Russian war against Ukraine. Although this is far from the only time that the Parliament has raised concerns, the EU and Türkiye do enjoy close links in many areas. From trade to Nato, the EU and Türkiye have enjoyed a productive relationship in many domains for decades. However, in recent years relations have turned frosty as concerns mounted over the rule of law and the state of democracy in the country with media outlets being closed and journalists being jailed, as well as Türkiye's military intervention in Syria and its approach…

Is Turkey Still an Asset for European Security? | Springer Nature Link Turkey has been an active member of the European security family since it joined NATO in 1952. Since then, Turkey has not only contributed to the Alliance’s defence against the Soviet threat but also has been one of the foremost contributors to peace operations undertaken around the globe. Europe’s security and defence conceptions and structures have undergone radical changes since 1989 with the collapse of the communist regimes. Since that time, Turkey’s status within the European Security architecture has witnessed serious erosion. The European Union’s (EU’s) institutional rigidities seem to be the major reason behind that decline in status. Erosion in Turkey’s status reached a different dimension when divided Cyprus joined the Union as a full member. Cyprus’s membership harmed security relations in two different ways. First, Cyprus blocked Turkey’s inclusion in any European defence structure, beginning with the European Defence Agency (EDA), and, second, problems around the Cyprus issue undermined trust between the EU and Turkey. To get beyond this stalemate, ways of incorporating Turkey into the European se…

The unspoken yet growing synergy in Turkey-Spain relations In recent weeks, amid the turmoil sparked by the US-Israeli war against Iran, Turkey-Spain relations have gained unusual visibility . Turkish and Spanish government accounts have posted about the two countries’ “brotherhood” on social media, Turkish journalists have closed their news programs by thanking the Spanish government, and state TV has aired videos highlighting bilateral ties. Beneath this public-facing layer, however, lies a more consequential trend. Turkey and Spain have been consolidating a pragmatic form of political alignment that is increasingly underpinned by security cooperation. It is shaped less by ideology than by a shared view that their strategic and security environments are becoming more fragmented. That logic became especially visible after two ballistic missiles launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace and were intercepted by NATO air defenses stationed in the Mediterranean. In Ankara, the episode reinforced the perception that allied reassurance can still be tangible at a time when the credibility of security commitments is being tested. For Spain, whose forces have contributed to NATO’s air a…

Türkiye's Balancing Act: How Erdoğan Navigates Between NATO, Russia and ... Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Türkiye has appeared as one of the most strategically agile players on the global stage. As a NATO member, a regional power with complex historical ties to Russia, and a state with deepening relations with Gulf countries, Türkiye’s foreign policy under President Erdoğan reflects a deliberate balancing act. This manoeuvring is not merely diplomatic theatre — it serves concrete economic, military, and geopolitical ends as Ankara tries to asserts itself as an independent actor amid global fragmentation. Türkiye has kept US nuclear weapons since the Cold War, emphasising its significance in global security dynamics as one of only five countries to have US weapons. Türkiye joined NATO in 1952 and continues to be one of its most geopolitically vital members due to its control over the Bosporus and its proximity to Russia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Its strategic position not only acts as a crucial gateway for military and commercial shipping but also proves Türkiye as a key player in regional stability and international relations. However, relations between Ankara a…

Could Turkey help mediate an end to the Iran war? While the Middle East is embroiled in its most perilous crisis in decades, Turkey is trying to position itself as an indispensable stabilizer in a region that cannot afford Iran’s total collapse. At first glance, Turkey’s ambition may surprise those who view the country as a foreign policy problem to be managed rather than a partner in managing problems. But as US President Donald Trump searches for a way to exit the US-Israeli war against Iran, a new geopolitical reality may be emerging: one in which Turkey could be a useful mediator between the warring parties. Ankara’s self-image: Peacemaker and stabilizer For years, the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has consistently described Turkey’s role in the world as providing moral and strategic leadership, seeking peace and stability in its region and beyond. As tensions between the United States and Iran escalated earlier this year, Erdoğan underscored Turkey’s readiness to mediate between the two countries. Indeed, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul in late February. Since the war began, Fidan has echo…

“NATO's Ankara Moment: Strategic Positioning for a Resilient Alliance ... The "NATO's Ankara Moment: Strategic Positioning for a Resilient Alliance" panel was organised by the Directorate of Communications and SETA on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of Türkiye's membership in NATO, highlighting the role it has undertaken within the Alliance, its contributions, and its developing defence industry. The panel addressed Türkiye's perspective and expectations towards NATO, an organisation in which it has played an active role since its founding. In addition, the civil and military contributions made by our country—one of the Alliance’s strongest members—were assessed, along with the critical importance Türkiye holds for NATO. The event, which featured opening addresses by Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, the Presidency's Head of Communications Prof Burhanettin Duran, and SETA General Coordinator Prof Nebi Miş, included a video presentation highlighting Türkiye’s critical role within NATO. The first session, entitled ''NATO and the Evolving Security Environment", was moderated by Prof Murat Yeşiltaş, Director of Foreign Policy Research at SETA. The session featured the Chi…

Alignment of Necessity - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked the start of a prolonged confrontation between Moscow and Europe – one that is fundamentally reshaping the parameters of European security. The return of Donald Trump to the White House and his stated intent to quickly end the war in Ukraine and put pressure on the European allies including Ukraine to assume greater responsibility for their security is a second criti­cal inflection point. In this rapidly evolving security landscape, Europe faces the dual challenge of ensuring the long-term security of Ukraine, the Baltic states and the Black Sea region and strengthening the European Union’s defence and military capa­bil­ities. Turkey has a strategically significant, albeit politically contentious role to play within both contexts. What kind of an alignment might there be between the EU and Turkey, given that Ankara is simultaneously a partner, competitor, rival and even threat to EU member states? For its part, the European Union should adopt a gradual, pragmatic and interest driven approach to Turkey’s integration into the changing European security architecture. It sho…

NATO's Turkey Paradox - Modern War Institute NATO’s Turkey Paradox Ali Mammadov | 06.08.26 Share on Facebook Share Share on Twitter Tweet Share on LinkedIn Share Send email Mail Print Print When NATO leaders gather in Ankara in July, they will be meeting in the capital of one of the alliance’s most strategically important and politically contested members. The 2026 NATO summit will take place in Turkey at a moment when the United States is sending increasingly uncertain signals about its long-term role in European security, including a planned drawdown of US forces from Germany that has intensified European debates about burden sharing. At the same time, Turkey brings capabilities that few allies can dismiss. It fields the alliance’s second-largest army , and its geography places it at the intersection of the Black Sea, the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. This setting captures NATO’s enduring Turkey paradox. Turkey is militarily valuable, geographically essential, and regionally influential, especially when the alliance faces crises along its southern and eastern flanks. At the same time, its domestic politics, independent foreign policy, disputes with Gr…

Turkey ready to host Ukraine-Russia peace summit, Erdogan says - Dunya News Updated on 09 Mar 24, 07:40:53 PKT Summary Turkey is ready to host a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine. ISTANBUL (AFP) – Turkey is ready to host a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul. NATO member Turkey has been positioning itself as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion more than two years ago. Erdogan's proposal comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure on the front line, where it has lost ground to Moscow in recent months amid hold-ups to aid from its Western allies. "We are ready to host a peace summit where Russia is also present," Erdogan told a press conference alongside the Ukrainian leader. "While we continue our solidarity with Ukraine, we will continue our work to end the war with a just peace on the basis of negotiations," Erdogan said. Zelensky dismissed the idea of negotiating directly with Russia, arguing that Ukraine and Western leaders must set out peace on their own terms. He noted there would be an upcoming peace summit i…

NATO Allies Grow Silent on Human Rights Concerns in Turkey Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on July 1, 2026 · Last updated: July 1, 2026 By Jonathan Spicer ANKARA, July 1 (Reuters) - Five years ago, the West risked a full-blown diplomatic crisis with NATO ally Turkey when 10 ambassadors called for the release of a man they saw as a political prisoner, prompting an angry President Tayyip Erdogan to order their expulsion. After two frantic days in 2021, the sides stepped back from the brink with the U.S., French, German, Canadian and other envoys issuing conciliatory statements and Erdogan saying they would be more careful in the future. And so they have been. Since then — and especially since Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year later left Europe feeling exposed — the West has mostly avoided publicly raising concerns about Turkey's record on rights and freedoms, instead focusing on boosting security ties with the regional military power and big arms exporter. The West's diplomatic pivot will be on display when the leaders of NATO's 32 member states meet in Ankara on July 7 to 8. They are not expected to criticise an unprecedented legal crackdown on Turkey'…

NATO Summit: Turkey's Patriot, SAMP/T Plans and Push for a Bigger Role 01.07.2026 06:20 World newsroom Turkey’s push to strengthen its national air defenses and expand its role in NATO’s defense planning sits at the forefront of Ankara’s agenda for the upcoming NATO Summit, scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Ankara. Also central to the agenda is the reinforcement of NATO’s eastern and southern flanks during a period of intense regional instability. NATO Summit: Turkey’s goals and its bid for an upgraded role in the Alliance Statements made Tuesday by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler made it clear that Turkey is seriously weighing the purchase of both SAMP/T and Patriot missile defense systems. This move is part of a broader, long-term modernization plan for the Turkish armed forces, and is expected to help meet NATO capability targets set for 2029. Ankara’s interest in the SAMP/T system is particularly noteworthy, as it is a product of the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium — Europe’s homegrown alternative for countering aircraft and ballistic missiles — and is expected to be fully integrated into NATO’s defense architecture. This signals that Turkey’s appetite for ant…

Türkiye Seeks Joint Production of SAMP/T Air Defense Systems with Italy Türkiye is in talks with Italy to purchase and jointly produce European SAMP/T air defense systems. Ankara aims to use these systems to build its own multi-layered missile defense shield, the Steel Dome,Bloombergreports. The need to strengthen its defenses became critical after NATO forces intercepted four Iranian missiles launched toward Türkiye since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. Turkish diplomats expect that France, which previously blocked this cooperation within the Eurosam consortium, will support the request this time. Türkiye and Eurosam signed a preliminary agreement on joint development back in 2018, but France’s objections halted further progress. Now, the Turkish side believes that the changing security situation in the region could prompt partners to reconsider technology export conditions to strengthen the Alliance’s southeastern flank. TheSAMP/Tsystem can destroy aerodynamic targets at ranges up to 150 km and altitudes up to 25 km. It can also engage ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 25 km and at similar altitudes. The system is based on the French solid-fuel Aster-30 s…

Türkiye's Effective Position Within NATO - setav.org The increase in uncertainties in the global security environment has brought the debates on defense spending and burden-sharing within NATO back to the agenda. In this context, Türkiye's position within the alliance must be evaluated with a holistic approach through its high military equipment, financial contribution to the budget, and active role in international missions. Current data indicates that, rather than merely being a frontier outpost within the alliance, Türkiye is a key security provider that takes initiative. As a general introduction, Türkiye has the second-largest army in NATO after the USA in terms of the number of military personnel. In addition to hosting critical military infrastructure such as the Incirlik Air Base and the Kürecik Radar Station, it has directly contributed on the ground to many NATO missions from the Balkans to Afghanistan. Playing a key role in both maintaining the balance in the Black Sea and combating global threats such as regional conflicts, terrorism, and irregular migration, Türkiye is an indispensable ally that profoundly strengthens not only the Alliance's military capacity but als…

NATO Summit Talks in Istanbul Highlight Expanding Bulgaria-Turkey ... HOT:» Bulgaria's Summer Ritual: We Kill Each Other on the Roads, Then We Forget Speaker of the National Assembly Mihaela Dotsova held talks in Istanbul with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly ofTurkey, Numan Kurtulmus, focusing on parliamentary cooperation and broader bilateral relations. The meeting took place during a visit by a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation attending the NATO Parliamentary Summit hosted by the Turkish Parliament. The Bulgarian delegation is led by Dotsova and includes Ivan Lalov, head ofBulgaria’s delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Deputy Head Daniel Mitov. The discussions were held on the sidelines of the Istanbul forum, where both sides emphasized the importance of sustained institutional engagement within the NATO framework and beyond. Dotsova underlined that parliamentary contacts are a key driver in strengthening bilateral ties. She pointed to what she described as established positive relations between the two legislatures, noting that this foundation allows for deeper cooperation across multiple policy areas.“Parliamentary dialogue supports the developme…

Türkiye's defense rise: From dependent consumer to global powerhouse In the minds of many established geopolitical capitals, Türkiye’s emergence as a major defense industrial power has been treated with a mixture of surprise, suspicion and belated admiration. For decades, Ankara was viewed primarily asa large NATO consumer of Western weapons. A militarily significant country with strategic geography, certainly, but one whose capacity was moderated by the generosity of American and European export controls. That old perception of Ankara now looks obsolete. The SAHA 2026 defense expo held in Istanbul this week is best understood as a demonstration of a deeper transformation:Türkiye has moved from defense dependency to defense-industrial autonomy. Once constrained by the decisions of external partners,Türkiye leans on the optionality provided by its own defense primes, enabling deeperproduction capacity to open export marketsand selectively choose how to co-develop its indigenous technology. This transformation is not surprising. It has been spurred by geopolitical necessity. For Türkiye, defense dependency was never an abstract policy problem. It was experienced directly. The…

Turkey plans to purchase Eurosam SAMP/T missiles as S-400 missiles do ... Eurosam SAMP/T Turkish officials clarified that the S-400 cannot be integrated into the Turkish Steel Dome and does not meet the expected performance criteria that Turkish officials had hoped to achieve. The Turkish air force and army conducted numerous interception tests with the Russian-made S-400 and failed to achieve the desired results. A Turkish official said that the S-400 cannot defend Russia, it cannot defend Turkey. As reported by Bloomberg on June 25, 2025, at the NATO summit held in The Hague, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asked French President Emmanuel Macron to lift the political obstacles that continue to block the sale and co-production of the Eurosam SAMP/T surface-to-air missile system. The issue was raised during bilateral discussions between the two leaders, in which Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye, as NATO’s second-largest land army and among the top five contributors to the alliance’s operations, must be allowed to participate in European defense initiatives. Turkish officials stated that a favorable decision by Macron would unlock further progress in Türkiye’s efforts to operat…

US Envoy Whitaker Says NATO Has Moved Past Iran Operation Tensions Share Share WASHINGTON -- US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Washington expects its alliance allies to demonstrate stronger alignment on defense spending, Ukraine support, and broader security challenges at next week’s summit in Ankara. Speaking to reporters on July 1, Whitaker signaled that tensions exposed by recent US military operations against Iran had eased within the alliance, even as he acknowledged disagreements over allied support during the campaign. “There is no doubt that the [US] President [Donald Trump] has expressed disappointment,” Whitaker said, referring to some allies’ reluctance to provide base access and overflight permissions during the operation, as well as critical political statements that followed. But he added that the alliance had moved beyond that period of friction. “Those days are past us, thankfully,” he said, stressing that NATO members now better understand the importance of both political and military cohesion. The comments underscore how the Iran conflict, alongside the war in Ukraine, is shaping the agenda of the Ankara summit, where leaders are ex…

Erdogan Backs Ukraine's NATO Bid: Balancing Act in the Eurasian Power ... Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (L), his wife Emine Erdoğan (2nd R), Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2nd R) and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska (R) attend a dinner hosted by Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda (not seen) and his wife, Diana Nausėdienė (not seen) at the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. (Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Erdogan Backs Ukraine’s NATO Bid: Balancing Act in the Eurasian Power Struggle Debbie Mohnblatt 07/12/2023 Turkey’s attempt to remain neutral yields results, for now Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday said Ukraine was entitled to join NATO. He made his comment after meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. Erdoğan’s remark may have angered Russia, but experts say the Kremlin will not rupture its ties to Ankara. Isolated by sanctions, Russia needs Turkey as a link to Ukraine and the West. Without a doubt, Ukraine deserves to be in NATO Zelenskyy’s meeting with the Turkish leader was part of his tour of NATO countries leading up to this week’s alliance sum…

How Turkey can play a more constructive role in Russia's war on ... During the early days of the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, Turkey earned well-deserved praise from both Kyiv and its Western allies for supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing armed drones, and closing the Turkish Straits for Russian warships. More recently, its diplomatic efforts to ease the Black Sea grain blockade have also been welcomed. But as Russia’s invasion has evolved into a genocidal war against civilians, Ankara’s attempt to cast itself as a neutral power broker between the two sides has left many supporters of Turkey in Ukraine deeply disappointed. Ankara’s growing economic ties with Russian companies, Russia’s illegal trade in looted Ukrainian grain via Turkish ports, and Turkey’s alleged facilitation of sanctions evasion for Russian businesses have all fueled claims that Ankara is more interested in salvaging its relationship with Moscow than standing up for Ukraine. While for Russia the benefits of such cooperation are obvious, it is difficult to say the same for Turkey. In case of further economic and political engagement with Moscow, Ankara could end up even more de…

FM Fidan says EU 'must take steps', show 'political will' for Türkiye's ... Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye remains committed to European Union membership and called on the bloc to demonstrate renewed political will, while also stressing Ankara’s readiness to contribute to European security and peace efforts in Ukraine. “Our President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) has clearly expressed that we want to join the EU and that we have a firm will in this direction. Now it is the EU’s turn,” Fidan told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag in aninterview published Sunday. “What matters for us is the revival of political will in Europe for Türkiye’s EU membership; once that happens, the rest will be resolved. The EU must take steps.” Fidan was inGermany for official talks. Fidanalso held a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Asked about the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said both sides now appear more open to peace than in the past. “They have seen the scale of human suffering and destruction and recognized their own limits,” he said. Fidan noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to accept a ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement under certai…

NATO allies have grown silent on rights concerns in Turkey Some critics of Erdogan's government believe the relative Western silence encourages its authoritarian slide, isolates Turkey's opposition and ignores NATO's founding principles of democracy and the rule of law Reuters 01 July, 2026, 01:20 pm Last modified: 01 July, 2026, 01:25 pm Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan reacts during a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo Highlights: NATO leaders to meet in Ankara 7–8 July, Trump's first visit as president Leaders not expected to discuss crackdown on Turkish opposition West has pivoted towards avoiding raising public concerns over Turkish democracy Ties with Ankara are increasingly focused on security and defence Five years ago, the West risked a full-blown diplomatic crisis with NATO ally Turkey when 10 ambassadors called for the release of a man they saw as a political prisoner, prompting an angry President Tayyip Erdogan to order their expulsion. After two frantic days in 2021, the sides stepped back from the brink with the US, French, German, Canadian and other envoys issuing conciliatory…

Any peace deal that empowers Russia is a direct security threat to Turkey As US talks with Russia and Ukraine intensify, attention has turned to the potential terms for a settlement to end the war. Amid recent developments, Turkey has expressed cautious optimism about the path toward peace. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Die Welt this week that a Ukraine-Russia agreement could secure regional peace for fifty to seventy years, saying such a deal should oblige both sides “not to attack each other under any circumstances.” However, a premature deal that favors Russia or leaves Ukraine without credible and functional security arrangements would threaten Turkey’s own security, influence, and strategic position in the region. For Ankara, the consequences of a lopsided peace deal that advantages Moscow will continue to be felt long after the immediate cessation of hostilities. Any peace that cements Russian gains would alter the balance of power in the Black Sea region and constrain Turkey’s geopolitical footprint for decades. The downside for Turkey in recent “peace” proposals A “Russia-friendly” peace deal—one that legitimizes occupation or implicitly accepts the Kremlin’s c…

Turkey open to act as security guarantor in Ukraine peace agreement Turkey is open to providing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a final deal with Russia to end the war, the Turkish foreign minister said on Monday during a press briefing with his Russian counterpart. Hakan Fidan said that Turkey, as a matter of principle, is ready to take any step that could contribute to peace as the Russia-Ukraine war marks its third anniversary this week. However, he added that Ankara needs to see how the talks evolve before making a final commitment. "After we make the necessary technical preparations on this matter, [President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] will make the necessary decision," he said. "But for now, we are closely following the discussions and meetings." Fidan also revealed that Ankara supports US President Donald Trump’s new peace initiative to hold direct talks with the Russian leadership, which excluded Ukraine during the first round last week in Riyadh. The Turkish foreign minister said Ankara views the American initiative as having a "result-oriented" approach and believes that a solution can only be reached through negotiations in which both sides participate. New MEE ne…

War in Ukraine: A View from Turkey - The Conference Board May 09, 2022 | Report Every summer, thousands of Russians and Ukrainians flock toTurkey's south and western regions to enjoy the pristine beaches and other tourist attractions. High on their list is the city of Izmir, my hometown, on the spectacular Aegean coast. I moved to the United States from Turkey in 2016 after completing my double major in Engineering and Economics. My family and many of my friends are still living in Izmir an ancient city founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Geographically, Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, sits between East and West, influenced by both European and Middle Eastern cultures. Every Turkish child at elementary school learns about the uniqueness and importance of our location and the inherent geopolitical risk that arises from it. Turkey has a centuries-old history of both confronting and cooperating with Russia. The Bolshevik Russian government was a supporter of the Turkish War of Independence in the early 1920s. After World War II, our relationship turned sour since the Tu…

Red lines and reconciliation: Turkey and Syria's diplomatic gamble Turkey’s motivations for re-engaging with Syria after ending ties in 2011 are driven by regional security concerns, domestic political pressures, and the broader geopolitical landscape. With that in mind, Ankara’s primary objectives include addressing the People’s Defense Units (YPG) threat, facilitating the return of refugees, and seeking political stability in Syria—actions that are heavily influenced by Russia and the United States. From Damascus’s perspective, reconciliation with Turkey is crucial for consolidating Syrian control over its future political landscape and achieving economic recovery through re-established trade links, but it remains wary of legitimizing Ankara’s military presence in its territory. This article analyzes the evolving dynamics of Syria-Turkey relations, focusing on the key diplomatic milestones and the underlying factors influencing their interactions, and providing a comprehensive understanding of the path toward potential reconciliation. The objective is to identify the critical factors that could facilitate or hinder the normalization of relations between Damascus and Ankara. Turk…

Turkey's Role as a Strategic Ally for Europe's Security Dilemma Turkey's Role as a Strategic Ally for Europe's Security Dilemma Dr. Anthony Lindsay | Mar 11, 2025 11:17 AM | 10 min read | 2081 words Share this article: Table of Contents TL;DR: Turkey’s military capabilities make it a crucial player in Europe’s security landscape, especially in light of threats from Russia. However, its complex ties to both NATO and Russia complicate potential collaborations. This article examines different scenarios based on Turkey’s geopolitical alignments and their implications for Europe. Turkey: A Controversial Ally for Europe’s Defense Needs Turkey’s role as a strategic ally for Europe in defense matters has been a topic of heated debate. Historically, the country has served as a critical buffer between Europe and various regional threats, much like the Roman Empire relied on its provinces to guard its borders from invasions. In modern times, Turkey’s geographical position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it invaluable for NATO operations and European security frameworks (Smith, 2022). However, the relationship is fraught with complexity. For instance, Turkey’s military incursions i…

Ankara Accelerates Military Support to Damascus Amid Fears of 'Kurdish ... Türkiye is moving rapidly to bolster its military cooperation with Damascus as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks parliamentary authorization to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Syria for another three years. Erdogan argued that the new Syrian administration needs support to confront “terrorist and separatist” organizations – a reference to Kurdish forces. The acceleration follows the signing of a military cooperation memorandum between the defense ministers of Türkiye and Syria in Ankara on August 13. On Friday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on X that Lieutenant General Ilkay Altindag, the ministry’s director general of defense and security, led a delegation to Damascus for talks with Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra on defense and security matters. The Syrian Defense Ministry confirmed the discussions addressed issues of mutual concern. The visit came just days after a high-level meeting in Ankara on October 12 that brought together the foreign and defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of both countries. The talks, co-chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syrian F…

Unlocking Potential: The Untapped Promise of EU-Türkiye Economic ... 3.11.2025 At a time when Europe faces overlapping geopolitical, economic, and societal challenges, revitalizing the relationship between the European Union and Türkiye is not a matter of wishful thinking but of necessity. Despite years of political stagnation and an accession process effectively frozen since 2018 due to democratic backsliding, the economic and social interdependence between the two sides remains strong. If approached with pragmatism and guided by shared interests and values, this foundation holds the key to a renewed and mutually beneficial partnership. Today, the EU and Türkiye stand at a crossroads. A full return to the accession path seems unlikely in the short term, yet complete disengagement would be both unrealistic and costly. Instead, both sides can focus on practical “low-hanging fruits”, i.e., tangible initiatives that can deliver mutual gains, rebuild confidence, and create positive spillovers in political and societal spheres. Pragmatic cooperation in the economic domain can gradually foster convergence with the EU’s normative framework, reinforcing the rule of law, transparency, an…

Turkey shifts Black Sea strategy with NATO-backed mission to move ... A Turkish Navy vessel fires a mortar during a military exercise in April 2026 that included operations in the Black Sea and other maritime theaters surrounding the Turkish mainland. Abdullah Bozkurt/Stockholm Turkey is moving to the forefront of a NATO-backed multinational security initiative aimed at supporting Ukraine and strengthening Western influence in the Black Sea, marking what appears to be a significant departure from Ankara’s longstanding policy of limiting foreign military involvement in the strategically sensitive region. Recent correspondence from Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, a copy of which was obtained by Nordic Monitor, reveals that Turkey is playing a leading role in a multinational framework known as the “Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine,” a grouping of 33 countries preparing security arrangements for a potential postwar settlement between Russia and Ukraine. As part of the initiative, Ankara is establishing a Maritime Component Command in Istanbul’s Beykoz district overlooking the Bosporus, a development that could put Turkey at the center of future Black Sea security operations. Acc…

Why Washington should pay attention to Turkey's presence in Central Asia Table of contents Introduction A brief history: Turkey in Central Asia until the 2010s Assessing attitudes towards Turkey today Understanding Turkish soft power Regional integration, changing dynamics, and the Organization of Turkic States Economic presence Security The Russia question and limits to Turkish ambitions Spotlight on Turkmenistan Interpretations for the American policy maker Key findings Turkey has taken significant strides over the last two decades to establish itself in Central Asia, now boasting significant economic, cultural, and political presence, as well as steadily growing defense ties. Turkey and the other four Central Asian Turkic states continue to highlight shared cultural and linguistic heritage in government communications and public media. The underpinnings of these relationships are nonetheless pragmatic, with “pan-Turkic” thought remaining both diverse and debated across Central Asia. Turkey’s growing presence in the region — combined with local media and governments promotion of pan-Turkic narratives, however — will likely mean such ideologies will be more influential on future …

Russia says NATO summit in Ankara should reflect 'new realities' Russia's ambassador to Türkiye said Thursday that Moscow expects the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara to take into account the "new realities" of the world, while emphasizing that Russia respects Türkiye's choice to remain a member of the alliance. Sergey V. Vershinin, ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Türkiye, made the comments in an interview with Turkish journalistMurat Yetkin, addressing the July 7-8 NATO Heads of State and Government Summit set to take place in Ankara. "I don't know what is on NATO's agenda. We have no connection to this alliance whatsoever," Vershinin said. "Despite this, we are closely following developments. Our expectation from the NATO summit is that it takes into account the new realities of the world," he added. The interview came as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made a two-day visit to Moscow on June 16-17. During the trip, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and delivered a message from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also briefed Russian officials on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) and Türkiye…

The EU Equivocating on Turkey Is Bad Geopolitics Source: Getty Following Ursula von der Leyen’s gaffe equating Turkey to Russia and China, relations with Ankara risk deteriorating even further. Without better, more consistent diplomatic messaging, how can the EU pretend to be a geopolitical power? The importance of consistency in foreign policy has rarely been demonstrated as vividly as when two top European Commission officials adopted radically different language on the EU’s relationship with Turkey. One, President Ursula von der Leyen, positioned Turkey squarely as amember of a malign axisalongside China and Russia. She claimed that the construction of Europe should be completed so that “it does not fall under Russian, Turkish, or Chinese influence.” She added for good measure that “we must think bigger and more geopolitically,” insinuating that Ankara was actually a geopolitical rival. The other, EU enlargement chief Marta Kos, adopted aradically different narrativein an address to the European Parliament, stating that “we need Turkey in light of the changing geopolitical realities in Europe and the Middle East.” She prefaced her remarks by underlining Ankara’s importance …

Belgian defense chief: 'No security scenario without Türkiye' in Europe Home Türkiye Belgian defense chief: 'No security scenario without Türkiye' in Europe Belgian defense chief: 'No security scenario without Türkiye' in Europe Yenişafak 13:50, 09/12/2025 , Tuesday U: Update: 14:34, 09/12/2025 , Tuesday AA See Yeni Şafak News More Often: Click and Add to Favorites on Google! AA Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler (not seen) meets Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken at the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) held at Istanbul Fair Center, organized by the Ministry of National Defense with support from the Presidency of Defense Industries and under the management of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, on July 22, 2025. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has emphatically stated that European security is inseparable from Türkiye's involvement, praising its defense industry and strategic role. He singled out Türkiye's advanced drone technology as a key area for cooperation against hybrid threats and highlighted major bilateral engagements planned for 2026. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has declared that a credible security framework for Europe cannot …

Low-tech cash cows and high-tech bottlenecks: Turkey's defense industry ... Research This paper was written for a May 28, 2026 workshop on defense and defense industrial cooperation between Turkey and its NATO allies, organized by the Turkey Project at the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, along with Serhat Güvenç’s “Can Turkey’s defense industry deliver strategic autonomy for Ankara?” and Riccardo Gasco’s “Turkey, Italy, and Europe’s defense-industrial future.” The Turkish defense industry has made rapid strides over the past decade, a result of sound government policy, competitive products, and significant investment. Turkish defense primes are innovative and are investing in products to sell both internally and to the international market. But Turkey still faces problems in its defense industrial cooperation with Western allies—notably the United States. Ankara’s overarching goal today is to overcome or find workarounds for the U.S. export and import restrictions on defense products, services, and technology. Turkey is not entirely unaccustomed to U.S. sanctions. The birth of the modern Turkish defense industry began with an embargo: Following the 1974 inv…

EU official says reforms key to Türkiye's resilience Türkiye’s economic reform agenda and disinflation process are important for the resilience of the Turkish economy, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has said. Speaking at a press roundtable in Istanbul hosted by the Turkish Industry and Business Association, TÜSİAD, Dombrovskis said talks focused on the economic outlook, geopolitical turbulence and ways to strengthen competitiveness. “Looking at the economic situation and current geopolitical turbulence we are experiencing, we discussed policy responses to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of our respective economies,” he said. “In this regard, the Turkish government’s economic reform agenda and disinflation process are certainly important for the resilience of the Turkish economy,” he added. Dombrovskis said theEU’s competitiveness agenda, including simplification and reducing administrative burdens, was also discussed. He said the two sides reviewed ways to deepen economic cooperation and welcomed Türkiye’s application to join the Single Euro Payments Area, or SEPA. “The Customs Union is forming the basis for our economic engagement,” he said. On the …

NATO summit host Turkey sees its alliance clout rising amid war raging ... ANKARA — Host country Turkey expects from the NATO summit here this week that national leaders will reaffirm the alliance’s principle of collective defense enshrined in Article 5, according to Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Speaking last month in Brussels, Güler described the 7–8 July gathering as a critical turning point where NATO will demonstrate its determination to adapt to the changing security environment and where its future strategic direction will be shaped. Given the volatile security landscape in Europe, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in its fifth year, and war in the Middle East, Turkey’s leaders see the country’s strategic relevance for NATO on the rise. The summit in Ankara comes at a moment when the alliance is reassessing its strategic identity amid shifting U.S. priorities in Europe, an evolving Russian threat environment, and increasing demands on European defense capabilities. “With its strong military, advanced defense industry, effective diplomacy and strategic vision, Turkey will continue to be a key actor in NATO, Euro‑Atlantic security and regional stability,” Güler said. Ankara a…

Türkiye evaluating SAMP-T, Patriot purchases to strengthen air defense Türkiye is evaluating "all options" to strengthen its air defenses, including the potential purchase of Patriot systems from the United States or Franco-Italian SAMP-T systems, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters ahead of next week's NATO summit in Ankara, while saying the alliance is adjusting to a shifting security landscape rather than facing a crisis. "NATO continues to be an unparalleled and fundamental platform for Euro-Atlantic security and defense. We evaluate the period we are going through not as a crisis, but as a process of adjusting to the changing security environment," Guler said in written responses toReuters' questions. Air defense remains a key issue for Türkiye, which lacks its own fully fledged missile defense system and relies heavily on NATO's systems and fighter jets. Guler said Türkiye was weighing all options to meet its needs, including the potential purchase of Patriot systems from Washington or SAMP-T systems from France and Italy. "Our core approach on this issue is clear: we are open to all cooperation that meets our country's security needs, that includes technol…

Turkey's Syrian dilemmas: success and the road ahead - OSW Analyses 2025-01-17 Turkey’s Syrian dilemmas: success and the road ahead Adam Michalski Zuzanna Krzyżanowska On 15 January, a meeting between Turkish officials and representatives of Syria’s interim government took place in Ankara. It was held in a 3+3 format, involving Turkey’s foreign minister, defence minister and intelligence chief as well as their Syrian counterparts from the newly formed government led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The meeting was followed by a joint press conference of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, during which Fidan pledged Turkey’s full support for the HTS government and announced plans to reopen the Turkish consulate in Aleppo. Al-Shibani also held a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The talks in Ankara highlight Turkey’s determination to play a leading role in stabilising Syria. However, the Turkish government faces a number of challenges, including suppressing pro-autonomy tendencies among Syrian Kurds, creating the necessary political and economic conditions for repatriating refugees and cementing the pro-Turkish orientati…

Experts react: What the NATO summit breakthrough means for Turkey and ... This week at their Madrid summit, NATO allies formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the Alliance. It was the latest step in a whirlwind process initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and delayed by Turkey—home to the second-largest military in the Alliance, after the United States—which argued that the Nordic countries did not sufficiently address Turkey’s national-security concerns. After weeks of tough negotiations, Turkey, Finland, and Sweden agreed to a breakthrough trilateral declaration on Tuesday. Atlantic Council IN TURKEY asked experts for their take on the implications of the summit and the trilateral declaration. Jump to an expert reaction Mehmet Fatih Ceylan: A victory for NATO unity and cohesion Ian Brzezinski: Erdogan recognizes NATO brings far more geopolitical value than Russia Rich Outzen: The summit brings Turkey’s security concerns to the fore A victory for NATO unity and cohesion The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2014 has entirely changed the security landscape, not only in the Euro-Atlantic area, but globally. It has fundamentally altered threat perceptions beyond …

NATO to deploy air defense system in another Turkish city USD 1.7 Baku23 °C NATO will deploy an air defense system in another city in Türkiye,APA's Türkiye bureau reports. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that Italy's SAMP/T air defense system will be deployed at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base. According to the ministry's statement, the aim is to strengthen air defense capabilities. Kremlin announced the absence of proposals for a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy in the United States NATO to deploy air defense system in another Turkish city Putin to meet Hakan Fidan in Kazan Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Turkic Investment Fund discussed Prosecutor's Office appeals to CEC to lift Kocharyan's immunity Azerbaijan Army servicemen participate in "Caucasus Eagle 2026" exercise-PHOTO Appeal hearing on complaints filed by Arayik Harutyunyan and others continues-PHOTO Lavrov: Russia and Türkiye to cooperate closely on Black Sea security AzerGold to jointly develop gold deposit in Uzbekistan Parliamentary commission: Creation of a negative image of Azerbaijan in the French media has become systematic Azerbaijani athlete wins bronze medal at European…

Fidan: EU Lacks Political Will for Turkey's Membership - Hasht-e Subh Anadolu Agency Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, said that the main obstacle in Turkey’s EU membership process is not Ankara’s lack of criteria or reforms, but a lack of political will in Brussels. On Wednesday, April 29, Fidan said at a joint press conference in Vienna with the Austrian foreign minister that Turkey has accepted the conditions for EU membership and has never asked for special treatment or entry without fulfilling the membership requirements. He stressed that the accession process is based on clear criteria, and any country that meets these standards should be accepted. Fidan pointed to Türkiye’s strategic importance, especially highlighted by the Russia-Ukraine war, asking why Brussels still hesitates despite Ankara’s geopolitical, geostrategic, and geo-economic value. He added that the EU’s political commitment to Türkiye’s accession was effectively ended by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. Fidan also referred to regional and global crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East, saying that this situation has made cooperation between Turkey…

NATO Summit in Ankara: Greece, Turkey, and the Trump factor 06.07.2026 06:40 Politics newsroom All eyes are on Ankara, where the 36th NATO Summit convenes tomorrow, bringing together heads of state and government from 32 nations to shape the future of the transatlantic alliance. The meeting takes place in a volatile environment, following Washington’s retreat from its unconditional commitment to European defense, while Russia continues to threaten Baltic states. Against this backdrop, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to arrive in Ankara tomorrow, where he will once again be called upon to firmly assert Athens’ position against Turkey’s revisionist and expansionist ambitions. In the days leading up to the summit, intense behind-the-scenes activity surrounded the possibility of a new bilateral meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President. Their last face-to-face meeting took place on February 11 in Ankara, on the sidelines of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council. However, no official announcement has been made as to whether such a meeting will actually take place this time. Relations between the two countries have cooled considerably, as T…

Türkiye among top contributors to NATO's operations, missions: minister Turkish National Defence Minister Yasar Guler has emphasised his country’s pivotal role within NATO, asserting that Türkiye—home to the alliance’s second-largest army—is one of its top contributors to joint operations and missions. Speaking during a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, Guler said that Türkiye’s contributions to both regional and global security align closely with NATO’s strategic priorities. Guler highlighted the growing challenges to international stability, stressing that NATO must maintain unity and strategic coherence to address them effectively. “In the face of mounting global tensions, the strength and solidarity of the alliance are more important than ever,” he said. Ongoing commitment to regional stability The minister praised the Turkish Armed Forces’ leadership of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), noting that Türkiye carried out its recent command with “full neutrality, transparency, and professionalism.” The country currently serves as KFOR's deputy commander and is set to resume command in October. Guler also pointed to Türkiye’s rising global influence, citing…

Pleased to be able to contribute to this Istanpol round-up on Turkey and NATO in advance of the NATO summit. In the short term, I argue, Turkey looks like it has a winning hand, but, in the long term, the weakening of NATO creates very real strategic risk for Ankara istanpol.org/en/post-nato...