Türkiye set to join EU defense fund

Despite objections from Athens and Nicosia, Türkiye’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to advance, as final decisions within the European Union will be made by a qualified majority vote, not by unanimity.

On Tuesday, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias expressed his opposition to this development, indirectly referencing Türkiye.

“We cannot defend Europe if the enemy is within our own walls,” the minister stated before a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

According to Kathimerini, Türkiye’s inclusion in EU defense initiatives is not a surprise. In recent months, the message that the EU intends to cooperate with Türkiye on defense, due to the urgency of strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities, has been conveyed to Athens at multiple levels. These levels range from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and through working-level contacts.

For almost all EU member states, with the exception of Greece and Cyprus, excluding a NATO member with the alliance’s second-largest army does not make much sense, especially at a time when the bloc seeks greater influence in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Athens also encountered resistance in Brussels, which prompted the Greek government to mobilize its ambassadors in EU capitals. Diplomats were instructed to convey Greece’s concerns to the foreign and defense ministries of partner countries and to emphasize that decisions should be made by unanimity, not by a qualified majority.

Greece cited Article 212 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which governs bilateral and future agreements between the EU and candidate countries.

However, in practice, Athens’ room for maneuver is limited. The selection of proposals involving third countries will be decided by a qualified majority, leaving Greece and Cyprus with only fragile and shifting alliances within the EU on this matter.

Negotiations may continue for several more days before the General Affairs Council meeting on May 27. Despite the challenges, diplomatic sources indicate that discussions are at a delicate stage as negotiators work to resolve significant differences.