Politics
Top EU official visits Türkiye for $236M projects, stronger partnership
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the European Union and Türkiye share strong ties that outweigh their differences, announcing that two projects each worth 100 million euros ($118 million) will be signed during her Feb. 5-6 visit to Ankara.
“There is really more that connects EU and Türkiye than what is dividing us, and we really should work on this,” she told Anadolu Agency (AA), stressing that “our economies are very much interdependent.”
Kos said she is “very much looking forward” to her first official visit to Türkiye, and explained that she had “intense contacts” with her Turkish counterparts “since the first day” of her mandate, especially with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
She asserted that her visit aligns with the approach of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the aim of opening a new perspective in the relations.
“We are really living in challenging times. The world is changing around us. We are seeing the return of imperial behavior as China, Russia, and the U.S. are aggressively building their spheres of interest,” Kos said.
In the face of these geopolitical challenges, Kos urged strengthening cooperation, noting: “Our economies are very much interdependent. Whatever happens on the field of migration on each side is affecting the other side.”
Kos expressed hope that the Ukraine peace agreement would be signed soon to “change the realities in Europe and also especially in the Black Sea, where I see Türkiye as a very important partner already.”
Focusing on trust
Kos explained that she aims to foster trust during her visit as “trust is getting nowadays more and more important” while both in politics and business one needs partners “whom you can trust and build on.”
She described Türkiye as the “heart” of the EU’s Connectivity Strategy, a geopolitical approach aimed at establishing transport, energy, digital, and people-focused connections, seeking to “better Europe with Central Asia and turning this middle corridor into a very, very strong connection.”
“We can’t do this without Türkiye,” she asserted.
European Investment Bank
According to Kos, the Connectivity Strategy will allow much more for the EU and its partners “together in the Caucasus.”
“This is also why I’m very happy that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is coming back to Türkiye,” she said, referring to the multilateral financial institution owned by the EU’s 27 member states that provides funds for strategic projects.
“During my visit to Ankara, two projects, each worth of 100 million euros, will be signed as part of the re-engagement of the EIB, which wasn’t possible for some years,” she revealed.
She praised the EIB’s re-engagement as a result of the “high-level dialogue and economic discussions last year” that the “business community really, really loved to see.”
“Now it is happening,” she said, stressing that the two new renewable energy projects financed by the EIB “is now the start,” and the EU bank, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank, would also play an important role in the future in new renewable energy and connectivity projects.
To support this agenda, Kos will meet with the minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Impact of EU trade deals
Asked about the potential impact of recently signed trade deals with the South American trade bloc Mercosur and India on the EU’s customs union with Türkiye, Kos asserted that the agreement underpins the “attractiveness” of making a free trade agreement with the EU and its 450-million-strong market, despite “some people are doubting” the bloc’s geopolitical relevance.
She called the recent free trade deals “very important,” but emphasized that “the trade between the EU and Türkiye is almost twice as much as our trade with Mercosur.”
Kos urged to look at the “bigger picture in these uncertain times, when China, Russia and the U.S. are creating their spheres of interest.”
“It will be more and more important that we do business with reliable partners. There are many things we can do to improve the bilateral trade,” she noted, and explained that she had just received a letter from the Turkish business community, also published in the Financial Times, about the future of the EU-Türkiye economic relations.
“We should make much more out of this trading relation, including the improvement of the functioning of the customs union and removing some barriers we still have there,” she asserted.
Noting that “both sides should work on this” while there is a “clear will and possibility,” she promised to put all her “energy into moving on this.”
“We really shouldn’t miss this big chance which we have today, but it needs to be our common project and both sides have to deliver,” she added.
Admitting that the customs union with Türkiye has not been updated for 30 years, Kos mentioned that all political developments, and especially relations with the Greek Cypriot administration, can help to make progress in this area.
‘Made in Europe’ initiative
The “Made in Europe” initiative, which prioritizes European companies in public procurement in EU countries, is also “in principle a response to how the world of trade is also changing,” Kos revealed.
She explained that the rules set by the World Trade Organization have been increasingly eroded and trade dependencies are used as blackmail or a weapon, which the EU wants to prevent.
“We want to be sure that if we spend public money, it actually benefits the companies that choose to work in Europe or close to Europe, who want to innovate, who also want to invest and produce in Europe and in places we can trust. This is a matter of security,” she stressed.
She reminded that the work and discussions on the “Made in Europe” initiative are still in progress, and promised to “always defend that this economic logic should be aligned with our geopolitical logic, where we have to see who is our partner and with which partner we can get a better win-win situation out of this.”
“If we take together economic and geopolitical logic, this cannot exclude Türkiye,” Kos stated, adding that in order to participate in EU public procurements, first, the conditions enabling trade need to be “further developed.”
“We would love to see Türkiye involved deeper in some of our policies, but there are some conditions which have to be fulfilled,” she went on.
Kos said she would be meeting with Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek in Ankara, hailing that the EU and Türkiye had resumed high-level dialogues.
“Last year we had five: economy, trade, migration, security, research, innovation, agriculture,” she asserted.
“I would also be very happy if we would be able to do also the high-level dialogues on energy and transport. For the time being, it is not possible, but let’s move and see what we can do to make this possible,” she added.
She called for more trust, noting that “big changes will not come through the night until we are able to build trust.”
EU membership perspective
Asked about Türkiye’s EU membership perspective in the face of political obstacles, Kos acknowledged that “since 2018, there is a standstill in the negotiation or accession process” but underscored that the EU still “considers Türkiye as a candidate country.”
Acknowledging that they are “not starting from scratch,” Kos underlined that the latest EU enlargement reports on the progress of candidate countries had “seen steps away from EU standards, especially on the rule of law and democracy.”
“I know that Türkiye has a very long democratic tradition and also a strong civil society, and this is what we would like to strengthen, and this would build trust between the EU and Türkiye,” she underlined.
According to Kos, there are “immense possibilities” to be exploited within the 450-million-strong internal market of the EU and Türkiye’s over 80 million people.
“If we could put new energy into the development of the field of democracy, I think we could do really, really much more,” she asserted.
Kos described that the accession process is influenced by dynamics in the candidate countries and EU member states as well, and “we are engaging with our candidate countries, and the decision-making process is worked out together.”
“We know that any progress is connected to bilateral relations, not just Cyprus, but also with the Cyprus and the new Cyprus settlement talks. It is now a big opportunity to continue,” she added.
Defense cooperation
Asked about prospects of Türkiye’s contribution to the EU’s efforts in strengthening its defense industry and capabilities, Kos acknowledged Türkiye as a “very important, reliable NATO partner, the second-largest member in NATO, the institution that secured peace and security in the broader sense in Europe.”
“We also have seen how Turkish drones have been playing a decisive role at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. We have also seen the role Türkiye is playing in the war. For all of these reasons, Türkiye is a kind of natural partner for Europe, and it would be good both for us if we could work more together,” she added.
“Under certain conditions, Turkish companies can already cooperate, be part of our rearmament programs, if they have subsidies here in Europe,” she explained.
Kos also stressed: “Personally, I would like to really see strong involvement of stronger involvement of Türkiye in the security in Europe,” but warned that the development of EU security policy depends on member states.
“The new Cyprus settlement talks are a great opportunity for improvements also in this area,” she said, noting that Türkiye is “undisputably a really important NATO and security partner.”
Visa liberalization
Referring to the EU’s recently announced visa strategy, Kos underlined that due to last year’s high-level dialogue on migration, the EU could introduce the so-called cascade system, allowing Turkish citizens to more easily get multiple visas, and that “this is already showing the results.”
She highlighted that visa-free travel is one of the main topics in which she would like to see advancement, but warned that there are six conditions to be fulfilled.
Wowing to keep visa liberalization on the “high priority list” during her visit to Ankara, she explained that connectivity does not only mean “hard power in the sense of trade and transport and energy.”
“When I speak about the connectivity, I would also like to stress the connections between people,” Kos asserted.
A senior official from Türkiye’s ruling party said elections could be brought forward to November 2027 under certain conditions, while rejecting opposition calls for an early vote more than two years ahead of schedule.
Mustafa Elitaş, deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), made the remarks during a public discussion event organized by the Turkish Press Federation.
Elitaş said that from a seasonal and logistical perspective, October or November would be the most suitable period for holding elections, citing weather conditions, school calendars and voter participation. He said November 2027 could be considered an appropriate time if elections were to be brought forward through a constitutional amendment.
Under Türkiye’s current election law, the next general election is scheduled for May 2028, while local elections are due in March 2029.
Elitaş dismissed claims that opposition leader Özgür Özel is genuinely pushing for early elections, arguing that Özel’s public statements have been inconsistent and shaped by internal party dynamics following the 2024 local elections.
Asked about comments by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who previously described calls for early elections as “foolish,” Elitaş said an elected government should not abandon its mandate prematurely.
Elitaş said Türkiye’s political system provides clear legal frameworks for election timing and that any changes would require broad political agreement and constitutional procedures.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with the European Commission’s commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, in Ankara on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s official NSosyal media account, it said the two held talks in the Turkish capital and shared images from the meeting.
In a joint statement released following the talks, Fidan and Kos confirmed Türkiye’s status as a candidate country and welcomed renewed mutual engagement in areas of shared interest, pledging to translate dialogue into concrete steps. They said five high-level dialogue meetings held in 2025 had helped advance EU support for Türkiye’s efforts to host refugees under temporary protection and improve Turkish citizens’ access to multiple-entry Schengen Area visas.
The two sides said recent global and regional developments have further underscored the strategic importance of Türkiye-EU relations. Fidan called for swiftly overcoming existing obstacles in bilateral ties and urged cooperation within a more comprehensive, institutional and multilayered framework. Both sides agreed that strengthening cooperation in areas including security and connectivity is of strategic importance in light of ongoing regional and global challenges.
Fidan and Kos also emphasized closer coordination to shape a regional connectivity agenda covering energy, transport, digitalization and trade, aimed at boosting stability, resilience and sustainable growth in the Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia, highlighting Türkiye’s role as a central geopolitical actor in the region.
On economic ties, both sides reaffirmed the importance of Türkiye-EU economic integration. Fidan stressed the growing urgency of modernizing the customs union amid changing global trade dynamics, geopolitical and economic uncertainty, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the green and digital transitions. They agreed to continue working to improve the customs union’s implementation and to unlock its full potential to support competitiveness, economic security and resilience.
The sides welcomed the gradual resumption of European Investment Bank operations in Türkiye and said they intend to strengthen cooperation with the bank to support innovation-driven and sustainable projects in Türkiye and neighboring regions.
They also welcomed the adoption of a European Commission decision easing access for Turkish citizens to multiple-entry Schengen visas and underscored the importance of advancing the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, alongside enhanced cooperation on security and migration through high-level dialogue mechanisms.
Marking the anniversary of the devastating 2023 earthquakes, Kos paid tribute to those affected and reaffirmed the EU’s solidarity with Türkiye, including 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) in emergency and reconstruction support. Fidan, citing the EU’s solidarity during the disaster, emphasized the importance of Türkiye-EU cooperation in all fields for the security, stability and prosperity of Europe.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday commemorated those who lost their lives in 2023’s twin earthquakes, on the third anniversary of the disaster.
The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes struck southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, 2023, causing widespread destruction across multiple provinces and resulting in over 53,000 fatalities. The disaster triggered one of the largest emergency response and reconstruction efforts in the country’s history.
In a social media post, Erdoğan said the victims would not be forgotten and reaffirmed commitments made to the nation following the earthquakes. He said authorities pledged to preserve the memory of those who died, protect what they left behind and rebuild cities destroyed by the disaster.
“We will not forget our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the two major earthquakes we experienced three years ago today,” Erdoğan said. “We promised our nation that we would always keep their memories alive in our hearts and minds and rebuild our cities destroyed by the earthquake.”
Erdoğan said Türkiye has fulfilled that promise, adding that cities damaged in the earthquakes have been rebuilt within three years.
The post also included a video showing the destruction caused by the earthquakes and reconstruction efforts carried out in the affected region.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he aims to build on recent diplomatic momentum between Greece and Türkiye despite longstanding tensions, according to an interview on Thursday, ahead of his visit to Türkiye on Feb. 11.
Speaking to Foreign Policy magazine, Mitsotakis said Athens recognizes a single core dispute with Ankara: the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“This difference goes back decades,” Mitsotakis said. He added that the two sides have worked constructively in recent years to ease tensions and maintain cooperation, even without resolving the long-running dispute.
“We cannot solve this major problem, which hasn’t been resolved for many decades,” he said. “But we can still have a working relationship, a constructive relationship on certain fronts.”
Mitsotakis underlined that he plans to clearly restate Greece’s position during talks in Ankara, while also seeking to build on progress made over the past year. He is scheduled to visit Türkiye on Feb. 11 as part of ongoing efforts to improve bilateral ties.
Most recently, Türkiye rejected statements by Greek officials regarding a possible extension of Greece’s territorial waters in the Aegean Sea to 12 nautical miles, stressing that such unilateral actions are unacceptable and contrary to international law.
Ankara’s stance on the issue is clear, the Defense Ministry sources told reporters at a weekly briefing on Thursday. They emphasized that a fair and lawful sharing of maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean is only possible through dialogue conducted in good faith. They warned that actions and claims that ignore existing disputes and violate Türkiye’s rights cannot have legal consequences for the country.
“As Türkiye, we advocate that a fair, equitable and internationally lawful sharing of maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean is only possible within the framework of mutual dialogue and good faith,” the ministry said. It added that Greece’s unilateral actions, claims and statements disregarding contested areas are unacceptable.
The ministry underlined that the Turkish military remains determined to protect the country’s interests in line with the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, a concept defining Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction areas, including its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.
“In line with the ‘Blue Homeland’ concept, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are resolutely continuing their duty to protect all rights and interests in our country’s maritime jurisdiction areas,” the statement said.
Previously this week, the Greek prime minister also told local media that the dispute over the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean stands out as an obstacle in advancing Greek-Turkish ties and threatens the prevalence of Türkiye’s exclusion from EU funds.
Athens and Ankara have tried to overcome their differences in recent years, leaving behind a troubled past. Last month, diplomats from the two countries came together in the Greek capital for a “positive agenda” meeting.
Regarding his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his Türkiye visit, Mitsotakis told Skai TV that Greece and Türkiye did not need arbitrators or intermediaries to discuss bilateral issues. He hailed improvement in relations since the Athens Declaration was signed during Erdoğan’s visit to Greece in 2023.
Mitsotakis noted that resolving their dispute in maritime delimitation would bring Türkiye closer to the European Union, of which Ankara hopes to be a member. He warned, however, that the prevalence of “casus belli” in the Aegean would prevent Türkiye’s access to European funds. Mitsotakis, quoted by the Greek TV, admitted that Athens used the issue as “leverage” against Türkiye, so that Ankara would “abandon misguided claims.”
Türkiye recently extended the navigation warnings, known as Navtex, in the wake of Greece’s violation of Türkiye’s maritime borders. Mitsotakis, who was accused by the Greek opposition of remaining silent on the issue, hit out at the warnings and claimed they were illegal and Greece would not seek Türkiye’s permission for running projects in those waters, such as electrical interconnection projects.
Speaking ahead of the potential U.S.-Iran talks expected to take place on Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday that Ankara does not want a new war in the region.
Erdoğan stated that having both sides at the negotiation table was important and urged dialogue to resolve the crisis between the two countries. The president was answering reporters’ questions as he was returning home from an official visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where Iran-U.S. tensions, among other hot topics, were discussed.
Türkiye was named as one of the potential venues for direct talks between Iran and the U.S., after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran following weeks of deadly protests in Türkiye’s eastern neighbor. Iran confirmed Wednesday that the talks would take place in Oman’s Muscat on Friday amid rumors that negotiations may collapse due to disagreements about the format and the venue. Moreover, Trump reiterated his threats to Iran on Wednesday, warning Iran’s supreme leader that he should be “very worried.”
Media outlets reported earlier that Iran opposed the inclusion of its ballistic missile programs in potential talks with the U.S.
Ankara, which maintains close ties with Iran and the U.S., has advocated dialogue since tensions gradually escalated over the past few weeks. Erdoğan conducted phone diplomacy with both Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the crisis, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Istanbul in January.
“We are doing everything to prevent these tensions between the United States and Iran from driving the region into a new conflict and chaos. We are on it. We clearly expressed our opposition to a military intervention in Iran. I see the sides are making room for diplomacy, and this is a positive development. Conflicts are not a solution to the problems, and they should find grounds for reconciliation. This is an ongoing process, and it has not collapsed. There is still room for dialogue and diplomacy,” Erdoğan stated.
“I believe there should also be talks between leaders if the expected negotiations succeed. At a time of high military tensions, it is important to have both sides in the negotiations,” he said.
“We will conduct our leadership diplomacy and diplomacy at other levels, to reinforce the ground for negotiations. We will wait and see if these grounds expand and other countries join the process,” Erdoğan also said.
“Türkiye’s key advantage lies in its ability to communicate with the parties swiftly and in a results-oriented manner, as Türkiye generally maintains a more balanced position and engages with the parties on a principled basis. It currently stands out as the most suitable candidate for mediation. At present, Türkiye enjoys good relations both with the Donald Trump administration and with Iran, a country with which we have been neighbors for centuries,” Mustafa Caner, editor-in-chief of Kriter Magazine and a researcher at Turkish think-tank, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), told Daily Sabah.
On a question whether Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries aligned more with Türkiye’s policies on Iran, shifting from a seemingly pro-U.S. approach, Erdoğan said that countries such as Saudi Arabia favored the prevalence of peace in the region.
“We don’t want a new war, I always said that. Saudi Arabia is also affected by any conflict. Our sensitivity on this matter is aligned. Complete peace and stability are a big win for our region. A region dominated by conflicts, bloodshed and tears is a great loss. The most reasonable choice for all of us is siding with peace. I believe the regional countries clearly see our stand on these matters after years of conflicts, and they support our stand. It is time to extinguish the fires, to get rid of the ring of fire. Common sense should unite us. Handling matters militarily will only drive the region to a catastrophe. It is of no use to anybody to stoke the fire. Our region is fed up with bloodshed and wars. We want to speak peace and increase cooperation. Problems always emerge, and disputes are part of international relations, but this is what diplomacy is for. We have to strengthen peaceful diplomacy,” he stressed.
Also commenting on the situation in Gaza, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s efficient role in establishing peace and stability in the Palestinian enclave and for “proper execution of the Gaza Peace Plan.” He also called the international community to exert pressure on Israel for adherence to the cease-fire.
On Syria, Erdoğan said Ankara endorsed a strong, integrated Syria and “embraced all Syrians, be they Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens or Nusairis.”
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias acknowledged Türkiye’s growing regional clout and called on the U.S. to decide whether its long-term interests align more closely with Ankara or Israel, as he spoke Wednesday at the Delphi Economic Forum held in Washington.
Responding to a moderator’s remarks on Türkiye’s expanding influence in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the Horn of Africa, and claims that Ankara could benefit from any potential U.S.-Iran confrontation, Dendias said he “completely agrees” that Türkiye has demonstrated significant diplomatic and strategic success in recent years. He added that Libya should also be included among Türkiye’s achievements.
Dendias said Türkiye maintains a military presence in western Libya while engaging with authorities in the country’s east. He also noted that during his tenure as Greece’s foreign minister, he observed Türkiye’s strong footprint across Africa, including sub-Saharan regions, even encountering President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan twice during visits. He added that Türkiye has been similarly assertive in the South Caucasus.
The Greek minister urged Washington to assess what kind of Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean it wants to see in the next 10 to 20 years, suggesting that the U.S. should compare that vision with Ankara’s and determine which aligns better with its national interests. Dendias also commented on the personal rapport between Trump and Erdoğan, arguing that the U.S. president should encourage Türkiye to align with “Western values and interests.”
Reiterating his long-standing criticisms of Türkiye, Dendias claimed Ankara should abandon its “Blue Homeland” maritime doctrine.
“Blue Homeland” is the name of a doctrine conceived by two former Turkish naval officers, encompassing Türkiye’s maritime jurisdictions, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with U.N. resolutions.
Ankara and Athens seek to improve relations after years of hostilities, but maritime jurisdictions remain a thorny issue. Countries that came close to an all-out war in the 1990s over the Aegean Sea remain vigilant, with Türkiye concentrating on developing a domestic defense industry. Greece relies on foreign partners to boost its defenses.
Türkiye boasts a rapidly flourishing defense industry, especially in terms of the uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) it owns and exports. In the Blue Homeland exercise, 28 armed UAVs will showcase their abilities, in addition to some locally made ships, seven submarines, seven uncrewed naval vehicles, 31 military jets and 17 helicopters.
Embracing the doctrine of being effective and powerful at sea as its predecessor, the Ottomans, once were, the Republic of Türkiye in the past two decades has developed an independent defense industry capable of operating in open waters, thereby shifting geopolitical balances in its favor. The navy plays a critical role in ensuring the security of maritime trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, promoting regional stability.
In the past two decades, Türkiye has reached a milestone by designing and producing its own warships. The TCG Heybeliada, the first indigenous corvette, was commissioned in 2011, followed by projects for indigenous frigates and destroyers. The ADVENT combat management system, developed domestically, represents a significant achievement, enhancing the capabilities of the Turkish navy.
-
Politics2 days agoAegean dispute divides Türkiye, Greece: Greek PM
-
Daily Agenda14 hours agoHistorical blow from MİT to Mossad: Trade-masked assassination network collapsed
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBREAKING NEWS… Fetullah Gülen detail in the Zionist pervert Jeffrey Epstein scandal: We are ready to meet with you!
-
Economy3 days agoUS unveils plan for critical minerals alliance to counter China
-
Politics2 days agoTurkish FM to push customs union, visas in EU talks
-
Economy3 days agoWashington Post lays off third of its staff in major blow to brand
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBREAKING NEWS… Ministry of National Defense: We are following the integration in Syria
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoConsecutive posts from politicians on the third anniversary of the disaster of the century!