Turkey's European defense bid.
Turkey demands greater role in European defense, eyeing EU program ahead of NATO summit.
Key Points
Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova and Turkey’s Numan Kurtulmuş discussed expanding parliamentary cooperation during the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul, with Dotsova noting a Bulgaria–Turkey friendship group is expected to be formed in the Bulgarian Parliament next week.
Dotsova stressed that parliamentary dialogue drives practical cooperation in sectors such as the economy, transport, communications, and investment, contributing to expanded trade and economic ties between Bulgaria and Turkey.
Erdogan framed Turkey’s push to join Europe’s defense initiatives within a broader security context, citing ongoing Russian threats and concerns about a potential reduction in US military involvement as Europe strengthens its defence posture.
Erdogan addressed delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul, reiterating that Turkey should be included in all defence and security initiatives announced by the EU ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a direct demand on June 29: include Turkey in every EU defense and security initiative, no exceptions. Speaking to delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul, Erdogan said Turkey's contributions to European security are too often overlooked and must be recognized ahead of the NATO Leaders' Summit in Ankara on July 7–8, according to Free Malaysia Today.
At the center of Erdogan's push is access to the EU's €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund — a defense financing program adopted in May 2025 to counter Russian threats. Getting in requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. Greece has already signaled it may say no, according to Head Topics.
Erdogan Demands Seat at Europe's Defense Table
Erdogan told NATO delegates that Turkey must be brought into all defense structures Europe is building. He called for the removal of barriers on defense industry trade between allies. He framed the demand around two threats: ongoing Russian aggression and the risk of reduced US military involvement in Europe, according to US News.
Kurtulmuş, Turkey's parliamentary speaker and host of the Istanbul summit, went further. He called unilateral defense embargoes within NATO a "betrayal of alliance principles." Turkey has long complained that allies block technology transfers to Ankara, even as Turkey meets the current NATO minimum of 2% of GDP on defense spending.
The €150 Billion Prize Greece Could Block
SAFE is the EU's biggest-ever defense fund. Loans from it can be repaid over 45 years, making them attractive for countries with high borrowing costs — including Turkey, which faces high domestic inflation. Access would let Turkish firms integrate into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, potentially lowering costs for all European allies, according to Free Malaysia Today.
But unanimous EU approval is a high bar. Greece is the most likely veto, citing maritime disputes with Turkey and Turkish policy in Northern Cyprus. Analysts suggest a workaround: Turkish firms like drone-maker Baykar could join EU-led consortia in Germany or Italy as subcontractors, bypassing the political block entirely, according to Head Topics.
Bulgaria and Turkey Build Ties on the Summit Sidelines
On the sidelines of the Istanbul summit, Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova met with Turkey's Kurtulmuş. The two discussed expanding cooperation in trade, transport, communications, and investment. Dotsova said a Bulgaria–Turkey friendship group is expected to form in the Bulgarian Parliament as early as next week, according to Novinite.
Dotsova stressed that parliamentary dialogue is what turns political goodwill into real-world results. The bilateral push is seen as a potential model for smaller, targeted security arrangements between Turkey and individual EU states — especially if Turkey's broader bid for SAFE access stays blocked.
Ankara Summit Faces a Divided Alliance
The July 7–8 summit in Ankara will be one of the most contested in years. NATO is pushing a new target: 5% of GDP on defense spending by 2035. More than 3,000 journalists are already accredited to cover the event. Erdogan wants the summit to send a clear message of unity, according to Yahoo News.
But unity is hard to find. Allies are split over the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, US troop levels in Europe, and now Turkey's SAFE demands. Human Rights Watch also reported 209 arrests tied to freedom of assembly in Turkey ahead of the summit — adding a human rights dimension to an already complicated diplomatic moment.
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