Turkey Excluded from EU’s €150 Billion Defense Fund
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Turkey will remain barred from accessing the European Union’s new defense funding mechanism, as outlined in the European Commission’s White Paper on the Future of European Defense. This decision prevents Turkey from benefiting from the EU’s €150 billion defense budget, a restriction that also applies to the United States and the United Kingdom.
Turkey’s Exclusion and EU’s Strategic Considerations
Despite its longstanding EU candidate status, Turkey remains outside the EU defense funding framework. The Commission’s report acknowledges Ankara’s ongoing role as a partner in EU foreign and security policy, but emphasizes that access to defense financing would require Turkey to align more closely with EU priorities—particularly in addressing the Cyprus dispute and ensuring stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, both persistent points of contention between Ankara and Brussels.
Challenges in Defense Cooperation
Turkey’s participation in joint European defense programs faces additional hurdles due to the unanimity requirement in the EU’s SAFE program, which governs collective defense procurement. Without full consensus among EU member states, Turkey’s involvement remains unlikely.
However, the approval process for the SAFE regulation operates under a qualified majority system, requiring support from at least 15 out of 25 EU members or nations representing 65% of the bloc’s population. Additionally, before Turkey could secure EU-backed defense loans, it would need to sign a Partnership Agreement on Security and Defense, a requirement already fulfilled by Norway, South Korea, and Japan, while negotiations with Canada are still ongoing.
Upcoming EU Summit: Potential Shifts in Policy?
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to attend an emergency EU summit on Thursday, where the new defense mechanism and Turkey’s exclusion will be key agenda items. The summit is expected to clarify the framework’s details, including whether exceptions could be made for Turkey in the future.
