Why Europe is Getting Closer to Turkey

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Relations between the EU and Turkey have had its ups and downs. Lately though, they’re both eyeing a strategic reset, with European leaders seeing Turkey as an essential energy, economic and defence partner while turning a blind eye to Erdoğan’s authoritarian framework.

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SOURCES:
Turkey is NATO’s 2nd largest military:
https://www.politico.eu/article/trumps-wavering-nato-europe-closer-turkey-defense/
https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/publications-and-reports/annual-reports/sgar25-en.pdf

Turkish drone industry:
https://bisi.org.uk/reports/turkeys-drone-industry

Potential Turkish support for Lebanon mission:
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/07/01/eu-seeks-to-deepen-ties-with-turkey-amid-geopolitical-volatility

Recent Turkish defence deals with Europe:
https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2026/05/deciphering-europes-relationship-with-turkey
https://www.leonardo.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/16-06-2025-leonardo-and-baykar-establish-joint-venture-for-unmanned-technologies
https://www.safran-group.com/pressroom/safran-and-baykar-join-forces-accelerate-future-drones-and-smart-weaponry-2026-05-12
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/poland-buying-advanced-surveillance-systems-from-turkey-bw-111425
https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-turkey-advent-system-july-2026
https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-04-airbus-leads-national-industry-launch-of-spains-new-combat-training-system
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-turkiye-strategic-partnership-framework-joint-statement/joint-statement-on-the-strategic-partnership-framework-by-the-foreign-ministers-of-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-and-the-re

Turkey’s growing arms exports:
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defense/nato-summit-spotlights-turkey-s-arms-industry

EU-Turkey ‘jumbo meeting’:
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/07/01/eu-seeks-to-deepen-ties-with-turkey-amid-geopolitical-volatility
https://x.com/kajakallas/status/2071956295763050654

European Investment Bank resumes financing Turkey:
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-looks-to-rekindle-ties-turkey-critical-partner-ukraine/
https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2026-202-eib-resumes-financing-in-turkiye-with-eur200-million-to-support-the-decarbonisation-of-turkish-companies

Erdogan’s crackdown:
https://theconversation.com/turkish-democracy-on-trial-how-erdogans-rule-has-undermined-justice-and-weakened-his-rivals-283986
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/06/turkey-crackdown-public-life-run-up-nato-summit-ankara
https://apnews.com/article/turkey-nato-summit-independent-journalists-accreditation-d9f0bb397713378d236e4c8226ab91f2
https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-journalists-angered-after-nato-summit-exclusion/a-77711915

2021 Turkey-West feud:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/23/turkey-threatens-to-eject-10-western-diplomats-over-support-for-activist
https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-expel-western-ambassadors-diplomatic-crisis-osman-kavala/

2018 Turkish bid to host NATO summit:
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2026/07/02/why-europe-is-learning-to-live-with-erdogans-turkey/
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-move-to-block-turkey-from-hosting-nato-summit-report/

00:00 – Why Europe is Getting Closer to Turkey
07:25 – Ground News

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