Politics
Turkish-Romanian cooperation set for boost under new president
The election of pro-European independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president of Romania may open a new page in Türkiye’s relations with that country, according to experts. Experts say under the tenure of the former Bucharest mayor, political, trade and economic relations between Türkiye and Romania are expected to strengthen, and regional cooperation is expected to increase.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) earlier this week, Marmara University associate professor Meral Balcı said she had the opportunity to observe the elections on the ground, noting that the Romanian presidential vote marked a critical turning point in the country’s foreign policy orientation.
Balci noted that Nicusor Dan, an independent and center-right candidate, was elected president by leaving behind the far-right, anti-EU candidate George Simion. “This result shows Romania’s will to continue its integration with the EU and NATO,” she added. Pointing out that it is possible to evaluate Dan’s victory as a positive development in terms of Türkiye-Romania relations, she said: “Both countries had signed a ‘Strategic Partnership’ agreement in 2011, deepening cooperation in political, economic and security fields. Dan’s pro-EU and pro-NATO policies may pave the way for further strengthening of existing cooperation with Türkiye.”
Balcı pointed out that new partnerships are likely to be established, especially in areas such as the defense industry, energy security and trade, saying: “Dan’s commitments on anti-corruption and rule of law can also encourage the sharing of experience between the two countries, in parallel with similar reform processes in Türkiye.” Balcı said that Türkiye and Romania are key actors in terms of the security and stability of the Black Sea region, noting that both countries are developing joint strategies against regional threats as NATO members.
Referring to the recent establishment of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasure Task Group with Romania and Bulgaria under the leadership of Türkiye against the mine threat in the Black Sea, the professor said: “This cooperation is of great importance in terms of ensuring maritime security and protecting trade routes.”
Balcı stated that Türkiye and Romania’s development of joint projects in areas such as energy security, cyber defense and combating cross-border crimes will contribute to strengthening regional stability. “In the future, joint exercises and training programs to be organized by the two countries within the framework of NATO can further deepen military cooperation. In addition, initiatives such as the planned establishment of a joint NATO command in the Black Sea will also serve to strengthen the security architecture in the region,” she added.
Ecaterina Matoi, program director at the Middle East Political and Economic Institute, based in Bucharest, Romania, told AA that economic cooperation is developing rapidly around the world and that changing global trade standards through bilateral agreements and dynamic economic measures can revitalize sectors.
Energy hub
Matoi pointed out the importance of Türkiye’s initiative to become an energy hub at the regional level and said: “In addition to the existing pipeline network and ongoing cooperation with Bulgaria on new energy development and trade infrastructures, Türkiye may decide to analyze the Romanian energy market more closely due to its historical and strong economic-cultural ties. As a pioneer in the utilization of hydrogen sulfide, Türkiye could offer cooperation to any riparian country due to the multifaceted positive impacts of such projects.”
Noting that Türkiye has a positive balance of trade with Romania and Bulgaria, she emphasized that Ankara trades significantly with Europe.
“The recent expansion of the Schengen Area to Romania and Bulgaria significantly increases the mobility of business representatives and facilitates tourism,” Matoi said, pointing out that Europe is Türkiye’s most important trading partner.
“Eastern European countries such as Romania remain a gateway and connection point between the EU and Türkiye,” she said, noting that there are key elements pointing to an overall positive development and cooperation between Türkiye and the EU. Stating that it is important for the two countries to optimize the developments in the Black Sea region and create a globally competitive infrastructure, Matoi said: “Thus, trade and economic partners can basically become more efficient and future-proof.” She pointed out that Türkiye has the potential to increase its direct investments in Romania and said: “Reciprocally, Romanian demand for Turkish goods and services is also relatively strong. There are incentives for Romanian entrepreneurs to consider investing in Türkiye.” “Cultural and geographical proximity and the strong commitment of both sides to contribute to the economic development and stability of the region are long-term guarantees for mutual trade and investment,” Matoi said, adding that the cooperation frameworks for Romania and Türkiye are not systematically tied to short-term market indices or interest rates.
Dan assumed the presidency on May 26 after defeating his far-right and nationalist rival George Simion. This year’s elections were held after the 2024 elections were canceled following objections. The results are expected to be an important turning point for regional stability. In his inauguration speech, Dan emphasized the importance of national stability and restoring trust in democratic institutions. He also pledged to strengthen Romania’s ties with the European Union and NATO. The projects to be carried out through the Middle Corridor and the Black Sea may enable the development of diplomatic and economic relations between Türkiye and Romania and bring bilateral cooperation to a higher level.
A few months before a critical NATO summit, the alliance’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, arrived in Ankara on Tuesday.
Rutte began his visit with a meeting with Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, before proceeding with a visit to Aselsan, the country’s leading defense company, on Thursday. He later held talks with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Rutte had nothing but pleasant words for Türkiye in terms of defense. He said the bloc’s members “can learn a lot” from Türkiye’s defense industry revolution in remarks to journalists while visiting Aselsan.
The NATO chief had no scheduled news conference, but media outlets reported that he was set to discuss several pressing issues with the Turkish officials. Among them were the invitation of the Gulf countries to July’s NATO summit in Ankara and bolstering regional cooperation, to enhance the bloc’s clout. The invitation to the Gulf comes after several countries in the region suffered from attacks by Iran in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Another issue on the table was attendance at the summit by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose remarks on the alliance marked a major fallout between his country and the alliance it led. Rutte’s meeting will also focus on Türkiye’s acquisition of F-35 fighter jets from the U.S., long stalled under the previous U.S. administration. Additionally, Rutte’s talks will concentrate on the establishment of a multinational structure led by France and the United Kingdom for the security of the Strait of Hormuz and Türkiye’s likely participation in the structure.
Rutte will also discuss the dispute between Türkiye and Greece, especially on maritime jurisdiction, the Cyprus question and improving the role of Turkish defense companies in Europe’s security architecture, media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Speaking at the headquarters of Aselsan, Rutte said there is “a lot” the sector can learn from what the country has achieved, pointing to its rapid advances in recent years. He stressed that accelerating defense industrial production alongside innovation is a “top priority” for NATO, adding that both issues will be central at the alliance’s summit in July.
He said NATO allies must “do better” and “do more,” underlining that increased defense spending alone would not ensure security without boosting output of key capabilities such as air defense systems, drones, ammunition, radars and space technologies. “Of course, we will celebrate that we are able collectively to increase the defense spending, but defense industrial production will be extremely important, because we have to do better, we have to do more, and we can learn a lot from what Türkiye is doing here,” he said.
Describing the global security environment as increasingly volatile, he pointed to a wide range of threats “from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, from outer space to the seabed,” including missile and drone attacks as well as sophisticated cyber threats.
He cited Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, China’s military modernization and nuclear expansion, and Iran’s activities in the region “as key sources of instability,” noting that Türkiye is directly affected by some of these risks.
Rutte also said NATO had recently intercepted ballistic missiles heading toward Türkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, underscoring the alliance’s readiness to defend all its members.
Reiterating his earlier remarks, he said Türkiye has gone through a “defense industrial revolution,” adding that Aselsan is “at the forefront” of these developments. He urged the defense firm to “produce and innovate even more and faster.”
He emphasized the role of the defense industry in ensuring collective security, saying that protecting “1 billion people across Europe and North America” cannot be achieved by militaries alone. It also requires strong industrial capacity, he said. Rutte highlighted growing defense cooperation across the alliance, noting that Turkish firms are expanding their footprint abroad, including exports and operations in several European countries, and called for continued collaboration “from Alaska to Ankara.”
“Just recently, as you know, Aselsan sold advanced electronic warfare systems to Poland. You have started operations in Albania and Romania, and you have equipped a vessel for the Croatian Navy,” Rutte said. He also drew attention to the role of young engineers, noting that the average age at Aselsan is around 33 – and possibly even lower. “So I’m glad to address you, the young engineers who make all of this possible,” he added.
Aselsan, headquartered in the Turkish capital Ankara, was founded in 1975 and has grown to be one of the country’s largest defense firms, ranking among the top 50 in its field worldwide. The defense giant became the first Turkish company to reach a $30 billion market value in January 2026.
Türkiye is preparing a sweeping overhaul of social media regulations that would require users to verify their identities through the e-Government (e-Devlet) system before accessing major platforms, in a move officials say will increase transparency and curb online crime, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said.
The minister said the draft legislation, described by authorities as a world first, would apply to platforms with more than 1 million daily users in Türkiye, including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X.
Speaking to Abdurrahman Şimşek and Halit Turan of Sabah newspaper, Gürlek said the regulation aims to create a safer and more accountable digital environment by preventing users from hiding behind anonymity.
“Digital chaos is growing, and this regulation has become a necessity,” he noted, pointing to the rise of disinformation, online fraud, illegal betting and cyberbullying.
Under the proposed system, users opening accounts on social media platforms would be redirected to the e-Government portal, where their identities would be verified. Instead of sharing personal data directly with the platforms, the system would generate a unique, user-specific digital key confirming the verification.
Authorities say personal identity information would not be transferred to social media companies but would be stored by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).
Officials said the draft was prepared in coordination with multiple institutions, including the communications directorate, BTK authority and cybersecurity bodies, and has already been presented to the Cabinet.
The rollout is expected to take place over a nine-month period. In the first phase, regulations and technical infrastructure will be developed. Platforms will then be required to integrate the system, followed by a final phase in which existing users must comply with the new verification rules.
Authorities say companies that fail to meet the requirements could face escalating penalties, including administrative fines of up to 3% of their global turnover, advertising bans and bandwidth restrictions ranging from 50% to 90%.
Platforms may also be required to provide verified identity information of users involved in criminal investigations within 30 days upon request from judicial authorities.
The government says the system is designed to prevent the proliferation of fake and bot accounts and ensure that only real individuals can register on social media platforms.
Officials note that similar identity verification mechanisms are already used in certain online services in Türkiye, such as e-commerce platforms.
Parliament to take steps
Nazım Elmas, head of Parliament’s Digital Platforms Commission, said companies that fail to cooperate with state requirements could face additional regulatory responses. He added that the broader legislative package also includes measures related to digital platforms and social services.
Elmas said the initiative is part of a wider effort to address risks posed by rapidly evolving technologies, particularly for children and young users.
“This regulation alone may not solve all problems, but it is an important starting point,” he stressed.
He also noted that content initially presented as harmless such as games and applications can later be redirected toward more problematic areas driven by commercial interests, at times exposing children to harmful situations.
Members of the European Parliament criticized on Wednesday remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting that Europe should not fall under the influence of Russia, Türkiye or China, calling the comments misleading and divisive.
Lawmakers from the Left Group in the European Parliament, including Belgian members Rudi Kennes and Marc Botenga, said the statement risks reinforcing unnecessary geopolitical polarization.
Botenga described the remarks as “both inaccurate and very strange,” emphasizing that Türkiye is not only a NATO ally but also maintains multifaceted relations with the European Union.
“Türkiye is still officially a candidate country for EU membership,” he noted.
He argued that the broader issue lies in what he characterized as a worldview that divides the globe into opposing camps. “These kinds of statements serve to split the world into ‘us’ and ‘others,’ as if there were some kind of purity test, and as if there were an intention to control the rest of the continent,” Botenga said.
Von der Leyen made the comments during a speech at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the German newspaper Die Zeit in Hamburg, where she reiterated support for EU enlargement and called for a more geopolitical approach.
Responding to her call for Europe to “complete its unity,” Botenga said the continent is already interconnected but not fully represented by the EU. He also warned that framing international relations as “friends versus enemies” poses significant risks for global stability.
The European Commission said Tuesday that Türkiye is “unquestionably an important partner” in the region, both economically and politically, following comments by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that grouped Türkiye alongside Russia and China as influential actors.
A Commission spokesperson stressed Ankara’s strategic role and significance for Europe, underscoring ongoing cooperation despite recent debate over von der Leyen’s characterization.
“Türkiye’s mention was a recognition of its geopolitical clout, size and ambitions, not least in the Western Balkans, and not meant as a comparison with any other country,” the Commission spokesperson told Anadolu Agency (AA) in response to a question about von der Leyen’s remarks.
Speaking at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the newspaper Die Zeit in Hamburg on Monday, von der Leyen mentioned her support for EU enlargement and said: “We must succeed in completing the European continent so that it is not influenced by Russia, Türkiye, or China.”
“Türkiye is unquestionably an important partner in the region both economically and politically, including in strategic areas such as the Connectivity Agenda, with the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor where Türkiye is a key anchor in the region, and on migration management where Türkiye is a long-standing partner,” said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson added: “Türkiye is also an important NATO ally and EU candidate country, and as such, a key interlocutor.”
The Turkish Defense Ministry on Wednesday highlighted Ankara’s adherence to the principle of “One Army, One Libya” after a landmark military exercise in the North African country.
“Türkiye supports the peaceful, stable existence of Libya, whose east and west act in unity,” the ministry said.
Ankara has long been a supporter of internationally recognized western administration in Libya but courted the east in recent years in its bid to support stability in the country, which still lacks unity.
Forces from the east and west-based administrations were joined by military elements from Türkiye and the U.S. earlier this month for exercises in Sirte in the first such joint event since 2014. That year, Libya was divided between forces that took part in the ouster of the Moammar Gadhafi regime. Tensions have cooled considerably since then, and the two sides recently agreed to the first unified budget in more than a decade to determine how to spend the billions of dollars of oil revenues the country earns each year. The “Flintlock” special operations exercises, run by the United States Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, included forces from both the military commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and the U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity, which is based in Tripoli.
The Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the Flintlock exercises demonstrated strong support by participating countries to Libya’s sovereignty and independence and contributed to the country’s ability for joint operations. The ministry also highlighted that their priority was preservation of stability, calm and balance based on the broadest dialogue and compromise in Libya.
The ministry said Türkiye always supported United Nations-led processes in Libya and maintained contacts with “all sides.” It noted Türkiye trained more than 23,000 Libyan military personnel, both in Türkiye and Libya, and was continuing to support Libya in several fields, from demining to defusal of unexploded ordnance, counterterrorism, the fight against irregular migration and smuggling.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will embark on a two-day official visit to the U.K. on Thursday.
Fidan’s visit will focus on talks on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, a Turkish diplomatic source said Wednesday, adding that he will also discuss cooperation between the NATO allies.
Türkiye, which neighbors Iran and is in close contact with Tehran, Washington and mediator Pakistan, hosted a diplomacy forum over the weekend attended by delegations from all sides. It has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that he would indefinitely extend the cease-fire with Iran to allow for further peace talks.
Fidan’s visit comes as the British government said military planners from more than 30 countries would hold two-day talks in London from Wednesday to advance a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. More than a dozen countries said last week they were willing to join an international mission, led by Britain and France, to protect shipping in the strait when conditions permit. Fidan has warned of difficulties with such a mission.
During his two-day visit, Fidan will also repeat Türkiye’s readiness to contribute to efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the source said, after Kyiv said on Wednesday it had asked Türkiye to host a leaders’ level meeting with Russia. He will also convey Ankara’s request to finalize a free trade agreement with Britain and emphasize the importance of deepening defense industry and energy cooperation between the allies, the source added.
The minister will meet U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, members of the U.K. Parliament and other officials. During his visit to London, diplomatic sources say, Fidan is also expected to deliver remarks at an event hosted by the University of Oxford Global History Centre and the Global Order Program and meet with members of the Turkish community and business representatives living in the U.K.
The sources said Fidan is expected to express satisfaction with the positive trajectory of relations between Türkiye and the U.K. and discuss joint efforts to expand existing cooperation and deepen ties in a multidimensional manner.
He will likely also emphasize the importance of completing negotiations to update the current free trade agreement to increase bilateral trade volume. Fidan is expected to emphasize that the nearly 500,000-strong Turkish community in the U.K. represents one of the most important elements strengthening human, cultural and economic ties between the two countries. Diplomatic sources say the foreign minister is likely to raise concerns about delays in the processing of indefinite residency applications for Turkish citizens and convey expectations for swift action to address the issue. The talks are also expected to underscore the strong political will to enhance defense industry cooperation and deepen collaboration in the energy sector, including nuclear and renewable energy. During the talks, Fidan will stress the importance of EU security and defense initiatives being conducted in close coordination with NATO, according to the sources.
Fidan is anticipated to also emphasize the need for a principled, determined, and unified international stance against Israel’s actions undermining the Gaza cease-fire and two-state solution prospects, as well as the importance of keeping the humanitarian situation in Palestine at the forefront of the international agenda and the critical importance of encouraging initiatives that promote long-term stability and reconstruction in Syria.
The visit follows recent high-level contacts between the two countries.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Türkiye on Oct. 27, 2025, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and agreements were signed finalizing Türkiye’s procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
Fidan last visited London on Oct. 30, 2024, and attended a Ukraine-focused meeting hosted by the U.K. in London on March 2-3 of last year. He also met with Cooper on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum last Saturday.
The U.K. remains one of Türkiye’s leading trade partners. Bilateral trade volume reached $26 billion in 2025, with both sides aiming to increase it to $30 billion, diplomatic sources said.
The U.K. became Türkiye’s second-largest export market in 2025 and remained among the top three in foreign investment and tourism. Between 2002 and 2025, British investments in Türkiye reached $14.5 billion, while Turkish investments in the U.K. totaled $3.5 billion. In 2025, 4.3 million tourists from the U.K. visited Türkiye.
Negotiations to expand the scope of the current free trade agreement between the two countries are ongoing, with completion targeted in 2026, according to diplomatic sources.
-
Economy3 days agoTürkiye rolling out incentives to ease Istanbul’s development burden
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoEşme Mayor Yılmaz Tozan was arrested
-
Economy3 days agoOil prices jump on US-Iran talks uncertainty, stocks hold up
-
Daily Agenda3 days ago7th International award in 9 years for ‘Zero Waste’
-
Politics2 days agoTurkish-Hungarian ties likely to strongly prevail in Magyar era
-
Sports3 days agoCity extend Arsenal’s April nightmare to grab title race by scruff of neck
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye rallies int’l community for protection of children in digital age
-
Economy3 days agoUK on brink of recession, 250,000 jobs could be lost by 2027: Report