Egemen Bağış speaks at 5th Selanik Metropolitan Summit
Türkiye’s former Minister for EU Affairs and Ambassador Egemen Bağış emphasized Türkiye’s strategic importance for Europe, declaring: “Türkiye welcomes the EU’s ambition to become a strong actor in the field of security. We are ready to contribute – not only as a neighbor, but also as a NATO ally, a strategic partner, and a candidate country.”
Bağış was a keynote speaker at the 5th Thessaloniki Metropolitan Summit, held in the northern Greek city known for centuries as a crossroads of cultures, religions, and ideas. He highlighted that Thessaloniki is also the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, describing him as a visionary leader who bound the nation to modernization and sought closer ties with the West.
A Europe at a turning point
Bağış argued that Europe is at a historic crossroads, with once-certain economic and political assumptions fading. He identified three “shattering events” reshaping the world: the war in Ukraine, “the tragic and inhumane genocide attempt in Gaza by Prime Minister Netanyahu,” and the lasting consequences of regime change in Syria. Each of these, he said, has tested the EU’s capacity to project influence abroad while maintaining unity at home.
He underlined that the war in Ukraine exposed Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and weaknesses in its defense industry, while the crisis in Gaza revealed moral shortcomings and foreign policy divisions, and the Syrian conflict continues to generate refugee flows and security challenges.
“Strategic autonomy is not a slogan, it is a survival strategy,” Bağış stressed, noting that the EU is trying to adapt through initiatives such as the Strategic Compass, Competitiveness Compass, European Chips Act, REPowerEU, Global Gateway, and the ReArm Euro Plan.
Türkiye’s indispensable role
Raising the question of whether the EU can truly achieve strategic autonomy without Türkiye, Bağış stated: “Türkiye has NATO’s second-largest army, ranked 9th worldwide in 2025, and last year exceeded $7 billion in defense exports. From the ALTAY tank and MİLGEM frigates to ANKA and TB2 drones, and the KAAN fighter jet – these are not only our national assets, but also potential European assets.”
He argued that Türkiye’s participation in the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative is not optional but essential. “We have already expressed readiness to join joint procurement projects under SAFE. Overlooking Türkiye risks Europe losing a valuable ally,” he said.
Bağış warned that excluding Türkiye weakens Europe’s defense ecosystem and undermines its autonomy: “History shows Türkiye has often been Europe’s first line of defense. One day, just like during the Cold War, we may again have to rush to Europe’s aid. A Europe that excludes Türkiye excludes its own security and future.”
Beyond security: trade and energy
Bağış also stressed the economic and energy dimensions of EU–Türkiye relations: “Without Türkiye, Europe’s energy security map is incomplete.” He underlined that expecting Türkiye to contribute strategically to European security while keeping it outside decision-making mechanisms is unrealistic.
He concluded by stating that Türkiye’s alignment with EU security and defense initiatives must go hand in hand with revitalizing its accession process: “Türkiye is not Europe’s neighbor. Türkiye is Europe – and Europe’s future.”
During a Q&A session, Bağış highlighted Türkiye’s pivotal position bridging East and West, continents, energy resources, and markets, stressing that this role has always made Türkiye a potential peace broker: “If Europe knows how to benefit from this advantage, Türkiye can always be a peace envoy. It has always been so.”
