EU to brief Türkiye, other non-EU partners following security summit

The European Union will brief Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Norway following a high-level summit on Ukraine and European security, set to take place in Brussels.

The video conference, scheduled for the day after the summit, will provide updates on key decisions and seek input from these strategic partners.

EU seeks stronger security ties with Türkiye

The EU’s decision to include Türkiye in post-summit discussions highlights a growing recognition of its role in European security.

Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Brussels has increasingly engaged with Ankara on defense and regional stability. Türkiye has repeatedly emphasized that “Europe’s security is not possible without Türkiye.”

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently stated that any future European security framework must include Türkiye, calling the exclusion of the country from such plans unrealistic.

“Türkiye cannot be left out of a restructured European security architecture. A security system that excludes Türkiye, a major military power, is simply not realistic,” Fidan said during a joint press conference with Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani in Ankara.

“While efforts continue to end the war in Ukraine, European countries are also engaging in extensive consultations on their security arrangements,” he said. “We see discussions emerging on whether a European security architecture independent of NATO is feasible.”

Other than the Foreign Minister, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also echoed that Europe’s security is unimaginable without Türkiye. Speaking at a gathering of foreign ambassadors in Ankara during an iftar meal, Erdogan underscored Türkiye’s integral role in Europe’s stability and security.

“Türkiye sees its EU membership process as a strategic priority, as it is an inseparable part of Europe,” Erdogan said. “It is becoming increasingly impossible for Europe to continue as a global actor without Türkiye taking its rightful place.”

High-level briefing on Ukraine, defense policy

EU leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, will lead the briefing.

The session will go beyond merely sharing information, as the E.U. seeks feedback on the next steps from Türkiye and the other invited non-E.U. partners.

During the Brussels summit, European leaders will deliberate on the future course of their Ukraine strategy and aim to strengthen defense cooperation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also set to attend the meeting.

EU concern over US policy shift on Ukraine

The EU’s outreach to Türkiye and other key nations follows growing concerns over American policy under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump’s shift away from Washington’s traditional stance on European security and Ukraine has unsettled EU leaders, prompting them to explore greater autonomy in defense planning.

France and Germany have voiced the need for Europe to prepare for scenarios where U.S. support may waver. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a national address, warned that Europe must take responsibility for its own security, including discussions on nuclear deterrence.

Türkiye’s expanding role in European security

Türkiye has recently played a more prominent role in European defense dialogues. It was a participant in a high-profile security meeting in London, attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, leading European nations, and Canada.