As mass protests erupt across Turkey, the EU is facing a delicate balancing act in its relations with Ankara, while also eyeing the country’s booming arms industry and navigating its complex relationship with President Erdogan.
The European Union is facing a delicate balancing act in its relations with Turkey as mass protests erupt across the country. Ankara remains a candidate for EU membership and as NATO allies, most EU states and Turkey have pledged to protect each other in case of attack.
Turkey’s relationship with the EU has never been simple. In recent years, the EU has accused President Erdogan of overseeing an erosion of democracy and prompting a ‘standstill’ in Turkey’s membership bid. However, this week, Brussels seems to be toning down its criticism of what Amnesty calls ‘unnecessary and indiscriminate force by security forces against peaceful demonstrators’ in Turkey after Erdogan’s key political rival was arrested on corruption charges.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a Turkish politician who has been serving as the President of Turkey since 2014.
Born on February 26, 1954, in Istanbul, “Erdogan rose to prominence”, he became the Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998 and later became the Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014.
He is known for his conservative and Islamist policies, which have been a subject of controversy both domestically and internationally.
Erdogan has also been a vocal critic of Western countries, particularly the United States, on issues such as foreign policy and human rights.
Turkey’s army is second only to the US in the NATO defensive alliance, and its geographic position facing Ukraine and Russia across the Black Sea and straddling the European and Asian continents gives it a ‘geopolitical weight that many other countries in the region or even the world don’t have.’
The EU may also be eyeing Turkey’s booming arms industry as it seeks more and alternative suppliers for its own national militaries. ‘Turkey’s defense industry actually has a lot to offer the EU at a time when there are significant shortages of weapons,‘ says Amanda Paul, a senior analyst with the European Policy Centre.
Turkey's defense industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by government investment and strategic partnerships.
The country aims to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers and develop domestic capabilities.
Companies like Aselsan and Havelsan have emerged as key players, producing advanced systems such as air defense missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Turkey's defense exports have also increased, with sales to countries including Qatar and Pakistan.
Before hitting global headlines over allegations of trying to silence his biggest political rival, Turkish President Erdogan had spent much of 2025 on something of a diplomatic high. Ankara has been at the heart of a so-called ‘coalition of the willing‘ — a group of European states brainstorming ways to shore up an eventual peace deal in Ukraine in a bid to gain some leverage and influence over the US drive to put a swift end to Russia’s war.
Turkey has become a major foreign policy actor in its neighborhood and beyond, whether that’s in Syria, the South Caucasus or Central Asia. ‘He [Erdogan] feels that he’s almost an indispensable partner to Europe at the moment,‘ says Paul. ‘That has given him more confidence to take these steps domestically.’
Erdogan has dismissed accusations that the arrest of his Imamoglu is politically motivated. However, pressure on Turkey’s European partners to respond with greater criticism will mount too. Mayors from across the continent are meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday and are expected to slam a ‘relentless campaign of judicial harassment’ against their Istanbul counterpart.
Ultimately, the EU is caught between its values and its strategic interests. While it must uphold democratic values, it also needs to consider its own national security and interests in the region. As Jean Mercou, a researcher, notes, ‘They’ll be caught between their values and their strategic interests.‘
- dw.com | EU faces balancing act over Turkey ties
- uk.news.yahoo.com | EU faces balancing act over Turkey ties
