Turkey, as one of the geopolitically significant countries, serves as a bridge between the Western and Eastern worlds. In this context, Turkey seeks to maintain normal relations with both the West and the East. However, as a NATO member country, the characteristics of the Western world are more evident in Türkiye in various aspects. In this regard, Turkey collaborates with European countries within the framework of various strategic projects. Although Turkey is not an official member of the European Union, it maintains certain relations with the bloc. There have also been negative developments between Turkey and the European Union from time to time. Despite these developments, issues related to Turkey's accession to the European Union have recently been reignited, comments Ramil Jalilov at commonspace.eu.
Turkey in the London Summit
The Summit on cooperation for Ukraine and the security of the continent was held in London on 2 March 2025. The summit, attended by 17 European leaders, resulted in agreements on four key issues:
The continuation of military aid to Ukraine;
Ensuring Kyiv’s presence at the peace negotiations table;
Preventing future Russian aggression;
Establishing a "coalition of volunteers" to defend Ukraine and ensure peace.
One of the key aspects of the London Summit was the invitation extended to Turkey, a non-EU member state. The "grain deal" reached in the next phase of the "Istanbul negotiations" held in March 2022 played a crucial role in taking significant steps toward resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since then, Turkey has consistently maintained balanced relations with both sides, advocating for peace. Even today, Turkey demonstrates its mediation efforts to facilitate the implementation of negotiations. This factor could be significant in revitalizing and strengthening relations between Turkey and the European Union through Turkey’s close participation in the London Summit.
The London Summit is an initiative aimed at fostering political dialogue and cooperation to enhance the security, stability, and prosperity of the European continent. Following the election of the new U.S. president, Donald Trump's remarks on the need for European countries to assume greater responsibility for their own defense have become a source of concern for European nations. Another reason for Turkey’s participation in the London Summit is the emerging trends regarding new directions in security cooperation between Turkey and the EU. In this regard, it is worth noting that Turkey was not invited to two previous meetings held in France.
Following the London Summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed Europe’s evolving security landscape, stating that "it is becoming increasingly impossible for Europe to maintain its presence as a global actor without Turkey."
Similarly, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who represented Turkey at the London Summit, highlighted the different perspectives emerging within the EU due to the recent shifts in the U.S. position and the clarification of this stance. He noted that these issues were discussed during the negotiations. Fidan also emphasized the significance of Turkey’s contribution to both "a potential peace agreement in Ukraine and the reconstruction of the European Security Architecture."
Within the framework of the London Summit, discussions between Turkish and EU leaders created conditions for taking significant steps toward revitalizing relations and deepening strategic cooperation between the parties.
Conclusion and Evaluation
One of the key advantages of using the historical-comparative method in research is the ability to make prognostic judgments about the future of Turkey’s European Union membership by considering past events. When examining both historical and contemporary developments, it becomes evident that the issue of Turkey’s EU accession has remained consistently relevant. However, for various reasons, no fundamental steps have been taken to resolve this matter. The research text addresses these challenges to some extent.
It is also important to note that the obstacles to Turkey’s EU membership are partially linked to internal processes within the EU itself. European values are openly violated in some member states, leading to an increase in intolerance and prejudice among the core members of the Union. As a result, according to former EU High Representative Josep Borrell, Turkey, once a candidate for EU membership, is now perceived by Europeans as "the biggest foreign policy challenge."
Nevertheless, in recent years, Turkey’s mediation role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has reaffirmed its status as one of the world's key power centers. The invitation of Turkey, a non-EU member, to the London Summit held on 2 March 2025 and its representation at the level of Foreign Minister once again demonstrated the EU's continued need for Turkey.
The analysis of past and present events reveals that even if Turkey is not accepted as an EU member, it remains the Union’s primary strategic partner on key issues such as the economy, climate, migration, security, and counterterrorism. Prognostic statements about the future can emerge in two main forms:
Turkey-EU relations will deepen, and the evolving geopolitical landscape will pave the way for Turkey’s membership.
Turkey will continue to develop and strengthen its bilateral relations with the EU in various aspects without becoming a member.
Ultimately, over the next decade, the second scenario is expected to become more evident. In any case, given Turkey’s unique global position and role, it is impossible to envision a European Union without Turkey. Even without full membership, relations will continue to expand, as Turkey benefits more from the EU than some of its member states and continuously enhances its potential.
Source: Ramil Jalilov is from Azerbaijan. He works as a researcher at the International Diplomatic Relations Academic Research and Education Association, based in Turkey.
The views expressed in opinion pieces and commentaries do not necessarily reflect the position of commonspace.eu or its partners. This is an excerpt.
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