Europe-Türkiye’s interdependence makes cooperation essential, not just beneficial: Experts

Europe faces a critical security challenge, one that demands swift and decisive action. With ongoing geopolitical instability and defense concerns, European nations are struggling to establish a robust and reliable security framework. Amid these challenges, one country stands out as a crucial partner, Türkiye.

Türkiye possesses the largest land force among European NATO members, with nearly 400,000 active ground troops, a number that doubles with reserves. The country operates over 2,000 main battle tanks—close to half of all those in European NATO—and maintains naval forces that command key Black Sea shipping lanes. Given these capabilities, Türkiye is uniquely positioned to provide significant military support and strategic leverage.

What Türkiye brings to the table

Beyond its immediate military strength, Türkiye offers Europe a major advantage in defense production. European leaders acknowledge the urgent need to boost domestic arms manufacturing, yet admit that significant industrial-scale output will take years to materialize. Türkiye, on the other hand, already possesses a highly capable defense manufacturing sector that can provide stop-gap solutions, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and critical ammunition such as 155 mm artillery shells.

Additionally, Türkiye has pioneered military technologies where Europe lags, particularly in drone warfare. The effectiveness of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones during the early stages of the Ukraine conflict underscored their strategic value, with these systems proving instrumental in halting Russian advances toward Kyiv.

In our latest X Spaces talk, Türkiye Today asked a panel of experts about Türkiye’s evolving role in European security.

The panel featured distinguished experts: Timothy Ash, senior emerging markets sovereign strategist at RBC BlueBay Asset Management and associate fellow at Chatham House; Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, director at the European Neighborhood Council (ENC); and Valeria Giannotta, director of Turkish studies at the Center for International Policy Studies (CESPI).

Ash highlighted Ankara’s critical role in European security, noting that its robust military-industrial complex and large standing army make it an indispensable partner. He pointed out that while the EU has been slow to invest in defense capabilities, the nation has developed advanced defense technologies, particularly in drone warfare. He argued that deepening defense cooperation between Türkiye and European nations is not just beneficial but essential, given Russia’s aggressive stance in Ukraine and the Black Sea region.

Vesterbye expanded on the economic and political dimensions, emphasizing that Brussels and Ankara are highly interdependent. He noted that Türkiye is the EU’s key trading partner and an integral part of European supply chains, making sustained collaboration crucial. However, he also acknowledged the political roadblocks, particularly the veto power within EU institutions and the historical skepticism of some member states toward the neighbor’s integration.

Giannotta focused on Türkiye’s role as a regional stabilizer, stressing that Ankara has acted as a balancing force in conflicts from Libya to the Black Sea. She argued that despite the challenges in EU-Türkiye relations, defense and security collaboration remains a strategic necessity. She also noted the increasing defense partnerships between two entities, such as Italy’s Leonardo-Baykar agreement, which is set to further integrate Türkiye into the European defense market.

🔍 Key questions explored:

• Does the European Union have a clear vision regarding its relations with Türkiye?
• What are the realistic chances that Türkiye will join European defense initiatives, and to what extent can Europe rely on Türkiye?
• Does Europe have a compelling offer for Türkiye in exchange for increased cooperation?
• What would Türkiye seek in return for deeper defense integration with Europe?
• Which platform—NATO, European Political Community (EPC), or a new framework—is the EU considering for leveraging cooperation with Türkiye and the U.K., a.k.a “European partners”?
• How can obstacles such as mutual distrust between Türkiye and the EU be overcome to facilitate stronger defense ties?
• The reasons that appeal Türkiye for rapprochement
• Can Türkiye and the Middle Corridor play a role in enhancing Europe’s energy security?

Listen to our X Spaces talk and catch the full conversation on our website and YouTube channel.