Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey should not be excluded from plans for a European security framework, adding that his country’s defense industry should also be included in EU procurements.
His statements during a teleconference of non-EU member states, which included the heads of the European Union’s institutional bodies as well as the leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Iceland, came in the wake of the EU’s decision to allocate 800 billion euros to boost its defense industry.
Emphasizing that all steps concerning European security should be planned in coordination with Turkey, Erdogan underlined, “Let us not forget that European security is not just a matter for EU members but for all European allies. We view today’s meeting as a reflection of this realistic approach, just as we did the summit hosted by the United Kingdom on March 2.” However, he also stressed the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic relations.
The Turkish president further highlighted the significance of participating in mechanisms such as the European Peace Facility, which aims to support and rebuild Ukraine. He also criticized Turkey’s exclusion from EU defense procurement and reconstruction programs, stating that there was no justification for it. “Our defense industry is ready to contribute to the defense sector. The European defense industry program should be open to all European allies,” Erdoğan asserted.
He also underlined Turkey’s crucial role in European economic security and defense, reaffirming the country’s commitment to full EU membership. Expressing hope that the Union would resume accession negotiations, he urged the EU to adopt a strategic and visionary approach, reiterating his offer for Turkey to host potential peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Last night in Brussels, all EU27 leaders agreed on an immediate plan to issue €150 billion in fresh loans to boost defense spending.
