Le Monde: Türkiye now vital to EU’s strategic interests

French newspaper Le Monde has characterized Türkiye as an “indispensable partner” for an increasingly weakened European Union, marking a significant shift in perception of the NATO ally.

In an article titled “Once seen as a ‘troublesome’ partner, Türkiye has become indispensable for a weakening European Union,” Le Monde examined Türkiye-EU relations within the context of the Ukraine conflict.

The publication noted that Türkiye‘s absence was conspicuous at the February 17 Ukraine Summit in Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron gathered leaders from seven European countries alongside NATO and international institution representatives to reaffirm support for Ukraine.

“One country’s absence stood out: Türkiye, NATO’s second military power,” Le Monde reported, adding that many EU countries were already disgruntled about not receiving invitations themselves.

The article suggested that recent discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office had altered the strategic calculus. ,

Zineb Riboua, a Middle East specialist from the U.S.-based Hudson Institute, characterized Türkiye’s exclusion from the Paris summit as a “strategic miscalculation.”

Fidan’s London meeting as stepping stone to EU

This oversight appeared to be corrected on March 2 when Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was invited to a summit in London. Following the meeting, Fidan emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s participation in the new security architecture being negotiated for Europe.

“Türkiye, which has distanced itself from the EU for years, is now seen as a country with diverse and complex diplomatic dimensions,” Le Monde stated. “Once considered ‘troublesome’ at best and ‘disruptive’ and ‘unreliable’ at worst by some members of the Atlantic Alliance, Türkiye has become indispensable for Europe, which has become extremely sensitive due to Washington’s changing attitude.”

The newspaper highlighted that Türkiye under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year leadership has become one of the few regional powers able to cooperate with Russia while also setting boundaries on Russian influence in Syria.

“Before Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, Moscow determined the limits and parameters of Türkiye’s influence in northern Syria. Today, it’s the opposite. This situation strongly encourages EU countries to implement mechanisms that will bring Turkish officials to their table more frequently,” Le Monde noted.