Navigating a New European Security Landscape: The Pragmatic Imperative of Engaging turkey
The shifting geopolitical landscape, marked by a receding Pax Americana, demands a recalibration of European security strategy.Central to this recalibration is a realistic assessment of Turkey‘s role – not as an ideal ally, but as a crucial, if complex, partner. Dismissing Turkey’s influence is no longer a viable option; a durable European security architecture requires acknowledging and strategically engaging with Ankara, even amidst ongoing concerns about its domestic trajectory. This necessitates a move beyond aspirational ideals and towards a pragmatic, interest-based approach – a shift in cultural mindset, particularly within Germany and Brussels.
For decades, European foreign policy has been heavily influenced by a desire to foster alliances rooted in shared liberal democratic values.While this remains a laudable goal, it’s increasingly at odds with the realities of a multipolar world.Turkey operates under the tenets of Realpolitik, prioritizing national interests and forging relationships based on transactional benefit, whether with Russia, Qatar, or the European Union. Attempting to force turkey into a values-based alliance is likely to prove fruitless. Rather, Europe should embrace a similar, “morally agnostic” strategic culture, focusing on areas of overlapping interest and accepting divergence where it exists. This doesn’t imply abandoning principles, but rather recognizing that security imperatives sometimes necessitate cooperation with actors who don’t perfectly align with European ideals.
This pragmatic approach suggests a strategy of tactical cooperation – collaborating on specific issues where interests converge, while maintaining distance when they diverge. Limited, targeted incentives can sustain this arrangement, mirroring Turkey’s existing foreign policy approach of balancing relationships and seeking investment. However,for Europe to successfully implement this,a significant cultural shift is required. The tendency to frame foreign policy thru a moral lens, prevalent particularly in germany, must give way to a more hard-headed assessment of national interests.
Looking beyond simply managing the present, Europe should also consider how to leverage Turkey’s unique capabilities within a future European security framework. While Turkey will not supplant the united States as Europe’s primary security guarantor, it possesses valuable assets frequently enough lacking within European militaries. Specifically, Turkey’s extensive experience in counter-guerrilla warfare (against the PKK), urban combat (demonstrated in syria), and military training provides practical expertise that could significantly enhance European defense capabilities. A future European security project could actively integrate this expertise through joint exercises and collaborative training programs.
In return for access to these capabilities, Europe can offer Turkey what it needs most: substantial capital investment and advanced technology. This partnership could also contribute to the long-term stabilization of Ukraine, not through large-scale troop deployments, but by bolstering Ukraine’s capacity through training and support. This woudl not onyl strengthen Kyiv’s defenses but also foster a broader security architecture stretching from Warsaw and berlin to Ankara, creating a network of cooperation and shared security interests. Joint drills and training camps involving France, Germany, Poland, and Turkey would be a tangible presentation of this evolving partnership, alongside deepened economic integration for Ukraine within the European system.
Managing relations with Moscow remains the most significant challenge. A revitalized framework akin to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) – a “CSCE 2.0” or a new Helsinki process – could provide a crucial diplomatic channel alongside necessary military deterrence. This forum could facilitate dialog and manage tensions, preventing escalation and fostering a degree of predictability in a volatile environment.
Turkey’s resilience and strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East make it an indispensable player in any serious European security strategy. While a complete reconciliation of differences might potentially be unattainable, tactical cooperation is not only realistic but increasingly necessary. Germany’s ongoing adjustment to the new geopolitical realities, coupled with Turkey’s internal struggles with democratic backsliding, necessitates a measured approach. A potential shift in government in Ankara, accompanied by genuine democratic reforms, could open the door to deeper cooperation. Alternatively, a prosperous adaptation by Germany to a multipolar world could lessen the perceived need for accommodation with Ankara.
For now, Europe must accept Turkey as it is: a partner of convenience, not an ally of destiny, and certainly not a replacement for the United States. however, as the era of American dominance wanes, these “partners of convenience” may prove to be far more critical to european security than previously acknowledged. Ignoring this reality is a risk Europe can ill afford to take.
Sources:
* [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/turkey-could-be-vital-partner-europe-ukraine-seek-new-security-framework-2025-03-13/](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/turkey-could-be-vital-partner-europe-ukraine-seek-new-security-
