EU foreign policy chief Kallas meets Erdogan in Ankara to reinforce security, trade, and NATO ties

An Ankara-based delegation led by the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kallas conducted the visit as part of a three-member delegation alongside Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner.

The closed-door meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Presidency Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and Akif Cagatay Kilic, the Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security.

“Türkiye is a key partner in security, migration, and energy, as well as an EU candidate country. It was positive to speak with President Erdogan today about further strengthening EU-Türkiye relations and the importance of good neighborly relations,” Kallas said. She emphasized that the discussions also covered the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara.

Kallas added that Türkiye makes a significant contribution to protecting NATO’s “Eastern Flank,” while Kos remarked, “We have a lot to gain by working closer with Türkiye.”

Ahead of the visit, POLITICO highlighted that the high-level trip aimed to forge deeper ties with Ankara at a time when the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are reshaping Europe’s security priorities.

A member of Kallas’s team told POLITICO: “Türkiye is an indispensable partner in defense, migration, trade, and regional stability. Tuesday’s [June 30] talks will address the way forward on issues such as Iran, Syria, Gaza, and Russia’s war against Ukraine—areas where Türkiye carries significant weight.”

According to the report, beyond security matters, Brussels is keen to advance plans to reduce trade barriers and develop the so-called “Middle Corridor,” a trade route linking Asia and Europe while bypassing Russia.

Speaking to POLITICO prior to the visit, Kos said: “Closer cooperation between the EU and Türkiye is in all our interests. Together with Türkiye, we want to move toward increasing stability and certainty in the wider region.”

During the visit, Kallas spoke to the Anadolu Agency (AA), pointing to the significance of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. “Every summit is called historic, but this time it truly is. Transatlantic relations have recently come under severe pressure. Therefore, delivering a message of unity is extremely important,” she said.

Indicating that Türkiye is a “strategically important partner,” Kallas also drew attention to its role in defense and regional stability, alongside issues such as migration.

Kallas continued: “When we look beyond the Middle East to the Caucasus, we see that Türkiye plays a very important role. That is why it is important to hold these talks and evaluate what we can do together.”

Arguing that Europe does not need a joint army but rather needs to strengthen the European pillar within NATO, the EU foreign policy chief stated that Europe also has much to learn from Ukraine regarding new capabilities.

Reiterating that Türkiye holds a “highly significant position” within NATO, Kallas expressed that the EU and Türkiye must also address the Cyprus issue.