Will a defense partnership be established between Europe and Turkey? Greece reacts: 'You have forgotten us'
Following US President Donald Trump's decision to halt military aid to Ukraine, European Union countries held an extraordinary summit in Brussels. The summit addressed a new 800 billion Euro defense plan and support for Ukraine. Greece also brought up the relationship between Turkey and Western countries at the summit. The Greek side argued that European countries have chosen to be closer to Turkey than to Greece.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed in his speech at the European Union (EU) Leaders' Summit held in Brussels yesterday that Europe has prioritized Turkey while ignoring the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and Greece. While Mitsotakis targeted Turkey without naming it, the Greek media also reacted to the EU's support for Ankara.
Mitsotakis stated that the security of the European continent must be addressed comprehensively. He expressed that security threats are not limited to Europe's eastern borders, but that there are also serious risks in the Western Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
According to a report by the Greek news portal News247, these remarks by Mitsotakis were indirectly pointing to Turkey. The Greek press wrote that Mitsotakis drew attention to Ankara's activities in the Eastern Mediterranean at the summit. The report stated, ''The UK, Germany, and the US had also tried to include Turkey in the European army between 2000 and 2003.''
Leaders of European countries discussed the situation in Ukraine at the summit. While France and the UK opened the option of deploying troops to Ukraine for discussion, Mitsotakis demanded that Europe take action in regions other than those where it faces Russia. No leader commented on Mitsotakis' statements.
KALLAS TO PERSONALLY BRIEF ANKARA
News 247 wrote that in addition to the UK, which is not an EU member but is in competition with France, central and northern European countries also view Turkey as a potential defense partner. It was reported that the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, will personally brief Ankara regarding the meeting in Brussels.
The report noted the 'possibility of a potential defense partnership' between Turkey and Europe, and stated the following:
''Turkey has the second-largest army in NATO and is an important customer for the European defense industry. This explains why the EU has chosen to prioritize Ankara while ignoring the interests of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.''
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas
'EUROPE WANTS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY'
While Greece was not invited to the summit on European defense and Ukraine hosted by the UK on March 2, Turkey was invited. The Greek media reported that this situation is part of 'European allies' efforts to include Turkey in defense cooperation.'
According to experts, the Ukraine War has led to a rapprochement between Europe and Turkey in the field of defense. Analysts, emphasizing that this rapprochement worries Greece, recalled that Greek officials tried to block the sale of Meteor missiles to Turkey but failed.
Republic of Cyprus leader Nikos Christodoulides expressed his discomfort with Turkey's role in the Ukraine crisis. Citing the close relations between Ankara and Moscow, Christodoulides claimed that Turkey should not participate in meetings held with EU leaders regarding Ukraine.