Turkey, Poland Discuss Strengthening Ties, Regional Security, and EU Relations
UK
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss deepening bilateral relations during Warsaw’s presidency of the European Council, as well as key regional issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Tusk Proposes Turkey’s Role in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
During a joint press conference, Tusk proposed that Turkey take an active role in facilitating peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“Both Turkey and Poland have sought peace since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022,” he stated.
Tusk also welcomed recent talks in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine agreed to a one-month ceasefire proposal by the U.S., pending Moscow’s acceptance.
“Our goal is to stabilize the region. We need to rebuild Ukraine. This presents an opportunity for both Polish and Turkish companies,” he added.
Turkey and Poland: Key NATO Allies
Following their high-level meeting, Erdoğan underscored the strategic importance of Turkey and Poland as NATO allies, emphasizing their roles on the alliance’s eastern and southern flanks.
“Turkey and Poland command the two largest ground armies in Europe,” Erdoğan noted, reinforcing their critical role in regional security.
Erdoğan Reiterates Turkey’s EU Membership Aspirations
Erdoğan also reiterated Turkey’s strategic goal of joining the European Union, calling on the bloc to recognize Turkey’s geopolitical importance.
“If the European Union wants to prevent and even reverse its loss of power and altitude, it can only do so with Turkey’s full membership,” Erdoğan stated.
With growing security challenges in Europe, the meeting highlighted Turkey and Poland’s expanding cooperation in defense, diplomacy, and economic reconstruction efforts.
