Turkey’s Strategic Role in European Defense Gains Traction Amid NATO Uncertainty
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Turkey is emerging as a key player in Europe’s defense realignment following last week’s political turmoil in Washington and growing concerns over Russia’s imperial ambitions. With NATO’s reliability in question, European leaders are now accelerating their military-industrial buildup, and Turkey appears well-positioned to benefit from this shift.
Turkey’s Presence at the London Ukraine Crisis Summit
Turkey’s attendance at the March 2 London Ukraine crisis summit was a significant development, signaling growing European recognition of its military and industrial potential. Timothy Ash, a Russia and Eurasia analyst at Chatham House, noted:
“Encouraging also to see Turkiye at the Lancaster summit over the weekend. Turkiye, with an 800,000-strong land army, is the only power in European NATO that can put tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of troops on the ground in Ukraine. Turkiye also has the manufacturing scale to help bridge Europe’s gaps in military industrial production.”
What Does Turkey Want in Return?
While Turkey is well-positioned to support Europe’s defense efforts, Ankara will expect significant incentives in return. Ash highlighted that Turkey is likely to push for:
- Technology transfers
- Access to finance and markets
- A new Customs Union agreement with the EU
- Stronger trade relations with the U.K.
“These are easily doable—low-hanging fruit,” Ash argued, emphasizing that Turkey is not an ally of Russia and is wary of Moscow gaining control over the Black Sea.
Turkey’s Potential to Fill Europe’s Defense Gaps
Speaking later on Bloomberg TV, Ash stressed that Turkey could act as a “stopgap solution” to Europe’s lack of military manufacturing capacity. He pointed out that:
“The Turks are desperate to work with us; they want our technology, they can give us their manufacturing capability to quickly step up. We need to bring Turkey in.”
The presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the summit was seen as a strong indication of Ankara’s readiness to play a central role in European defense cooperation. With its vast military force and growing defense industry, Turkey could become an essential partner in bolstering Europe’s security against Russian aggression.
