NATO chief urges deeper EU-Türkiye ties amid shifting security landscape

NATO has called on the EU and Türkiye to enhance their relations, as signals from US President Donald Trump of a shift away from European security have prompted capitals across the continent to rapidly reassess their alliances.

According to officials familiar with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s views, as reported by the Financial Times (FT), Rutte has urged EU leaders to improve their relations with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which have been strained for years.

This call comes as Brussels seeks ways to increase cooperation with Türkiye and other non-EU neighbors as part of a significant boost to Europe’s defense capabilities.

Trump’s threat to withdraw US security guarantees to European NATO allies, along with his move to restart relations with Russia and cut support for Ukraine, has also alarmed EU capitals.

Alongside the rush to increase defense spending, some EU capitals have advocated working within a “coalition of the willing” with non-EU countries such as Norway and the United Kingdom.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended a meeting earlier this month in London, where Europe’s major military powers convened to discuss support for Ukraine and broader defense issues.

According to three people familiar with the discussion, Rutte emphasized the importance of increased cooperation with Türkiye during a private lunch with EU leaders in early February, urging those present to engage with Ankara to make it work.

In a speech to the European Parliament in January, the NATO Secretary General said, “I believe that the inclusion of non-EU allies in the EU’s defense industry efforts is vital for Europe’s security.”

Several diplomats who spoke to the FT said that Trump’s arrival had changed their perspectives. Fidan also told the FT last week, when asked about Trump’s potential impact on Europe’s security architecture, “We are currently determining the best course of action. If it results in a new European security structure, we are ready to cooperate.”

A senior EU official also pointed out that “things have changed” regarding relations with Türkiye, adding, “At a certain point, regardless of the issues between you, you need to decide who you want on your team. But they also need to resolve their uncertainties about Russia.”

Following the war in Ukraine, Türkiye did not join the EU and other Western allies in imposing direct sanctions on Moscow and has maintained strong economic and energy ties with Russia.

Türkiye’s significant arms industry is also a factor in the broader debate among member states about whether third-country defense companies should benefit from the EU’s efforts to increase arms spending.

Officials said that the effort to increase engagement with Ankara also targets bilateral relations with EU capitals. Türkiye is technically a candidate for EU membership, but the process has long been moribund, as the FT put it.

The bloc had suspended various dialogue channels, including on security and defense, partly due to increased tensions with Greece. A Greek diplomat said that Athens was “cautious rather than dogmatic” about increasing defense cooperation with Ankara, adding, referring to Greece and Cyprus, “Türkiye must be constructive in addressing unresolved issues with member states.”