The European Commission has clarified that Türkiye is a key partner, following comments by its president that raised questions.
Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen mentioned Türkiye alongside Russia and China when discussing influence over Europe. This sparked concern about how Türkiye was being positioned.
In response, a Commission spokesperson explained that Türkiye’s inclusion was not a comparison, but rather recognition of its geopolitical importance, size, and growing influence—especially in regions like the Western Balkans.
The EU emphasized that Türkiye remains an important economic and political partner, highlighting cooperation in areas such as migration management and strategic connectivity projects like the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor.
The statement also underlined Türkiye’s role as a NATO ally and a candidate country for EU membership, reinforcing its position as a crucial player in regional and global affairs.
Overall, the EU sought to ease concerns by reaffirming that its relationship with Türkiye is based on cooperation rather than rivalry.
Source: AA
