Donald Tusk damaged his left leg while skiing. However, this did not halt the Polish Prime Minister from travelling to Turkey. In the orthosis he arrived at the residence of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish president helped him climb the stairs. 1 paper described a image of the situation, writing: “Turkey helps a sick Europe get back on their feet.”
Donald Trump's threats of withdrawing American safety guarantees, as well as his plans to resume relations with Russia, have put Europe on alert and forced it to act.
— For a long time, European countries thought they had the luxury of ignoring Turkey. Now they realize that this is no longer possible, commenting on the developments of erstwhile Turkish diplomat Sinan Ulgen.
“Turkey would be an perfect partner”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already visited Ankara, as did Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Turkish capital was besides visited by the Heads of State of North Macedonia, Albania, Azerbaijan and Croatia, president of the Russian Federation Council, and president of the United arabian Emirates Muhammad bin Zayid.
French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen spoke to Erdogan on respective occasions. All calls have been made in the last 3 weeks.
Last week, the chiefs of staff of the armies of France, the United Kingdom and Turkey met to discuss the prospects of enhanced military cooperation. Only a fewer months ago, this would have been impossible, given the common criticism that countries have formulated towards each other.
In early March, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte besides called for closer cooperation with Ankara during a private lunch with EU Heads of State and Government.
— Turkey would be an perfect partner for this “Yasar Aydin, Turkey expert at the German Institute of global Affairs and Security, says referring to German economic, arms and refugees problems for which Ankara could draw a helping hand to Berlin.
"The country is at a crossroads between democracy and dictatorship"
However, Erdogan himself does not make it easier to bring Europe closer to Ankara. Wednesday 19 March, the day before the crucial EU summit involving Turkey, safety forces in Istanbul arrested the mayor of Istanbul from the opposition CHP party and the main oppositionist in the country — Ekrema Imamoglu.
The authoritative reason for detention is to be its alleged ties to terrorist groups. akin allegations were addressed by the Turkish authorities to many opponents. Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, is seen as the most promising candidate in the next presidential election to be held in 3 years. He wanted to announce his candidacy on Sunday March 23.
Safak HacalogluDepo Photos/ABACAPRESS.COM / East NewsImamoglu Ekrem
Macit Karaahmetoglu of the German SPD party, associate of the current and fresh Bundestag, as well as president of the German-Turkish Society, said:
Despite the controversy, the chief advisor to the Turkish President, Akif Cagatay Kilic, already raises demands for a possible rapprochement between Turkey and Europe. For example, it argues that the authorities should facilitate the issuance of visas for Turkish nationals.
“We have the right to do so,” said Kilic in an interview with the German portal The Pioneer.
— Our geostrategic position and safety policy capabilities make us a partner that Germany should not underestimate, he adds. Many people in Berlin and the remainder of Europe present feel the same way.
Karaahmetoglu says in a time of distrust against the United States under Trump, Turkey, with its military possible and geostrategic meaning, must be more involved safety architecture.
“ At the same time, we see that this country is at a crossroads between democracy and dictatorship,” he adds. Europe cannot ignore this.
After years of outrage, the autocratic policy of the Turkish President, however, has emerged in Europe any fatigue with Turkey, which can be summed up in the following words:
"Erdogan wants to stay president, no substance what the cost"
In the shadow of the most crucial events in the world, the Turkish government has taken decisive steps, which now pays off Turkey.
Over the last decade Turkey has built a strong defence manufacture that can aid Europe modernise its armed forces. The country presently produces almost everything, from tiny arms to combat helicopters, corvettes and highly effective combat drones to aircraft carriers. Turkey's export volume in the defence sector has more than tripled since 2020.
— Greater integration of Turkish technology into German systems would not only diversify military supply chains, but would besides strengthen NATO," said Akif Cagatay Kilic, chief advisor to Turkish president.
Some European countries have already taken action. Ukraine, Poland, Croatia and Romania purchased Turkish production drones, as did many African and Asian countries. Hungary has supplied armored vehicles from the Turks and Portugal with warships.
This week, Estonia received 50 armoured vehicles from Turkish maker Nurol Makina, and this was earlier than planned. transportation was not due until the end of the year. In December, Spain signed a cooperation agreement with Turkey on the improvement of a fresh jet training aircraft.
In February 2018, Tusk, as president of the European Council, said of Turkey: "This country is simply a threat to the EU". In October 2019, he accused Ankara of utilizing refugees against Europe.
More than 5 later, he says something completely different.
“Turkey must play a more crucial function in ensuring stableness in Europe,” said Tusk during his fresh visit to Ankara.
“We want Turkey to become a associate of the European Union,” he added.
After talking privately in Erdogan's office, he stated that "the gathering was a turning point in our relationship."
However, recent wave of arrests in Turkey shows how hard it will be to keep a unchangeable relation with Turkey.
“ Erdogan wants to stay president, no substance what the cost, ” says Ozcan Mutlu, who sat in the Bundestag for the Greens and regularly accompanied the arrested Imamoglu on his travels to Germany.
