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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Turkey may be entering a “new phase of momentum” in its bid to join the European Union, highlighting recent remarks by Germany’s chancellor as a pivotal moment in reshaping Ankara–EU relations.
In a live interview with A News, Fidan praised Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s public endorsement of Turkey’s EU membership, calling it “a meaningful and timely reaffirmation of political will.”
“I am convinced that we will see tangible progress with the European Union in the coming period,” Fidan said. “For the German chancellor to state openly in Ankara that Germany wants Türkiye in the EU is an important and consequential signal. Its weight is amplified by the fact that it comes from Germany, and we attach great value to it.”
He said both Ankara and Brussels now operate within “a new strategic climate and political psychology,” making fresh approaches imperative. Fidan added that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s directive following his reelection in 2023 has been a key driver in reinvigorating Turkey’s engagement with the EU.
“After the election, the president made clear that he expected maximum commitment on this file,” Fidan said. “That instruction formed a direct mandate and strategic anchor for our EU policy.”
Europe’s Defense Realignment
Fidan also addressed shifting priorities within the EU’s security and defense agenda. He noted that Europe’s effort to restructure its security architecture—accelerated by the Russia-Ukraine war and reinforced by dynamics during the Trump administration—has placed renewed emphasis on revitalizing the bloc’s defense industrial base.
According to the minister, the EU is preparing a joint €150 billion low-interest fund to strengthen defense capabilities, while also creating an additional €800 billion financing mechanism after easing borrowing constraints—“a form of drawing on future resources to stabilize the present,” he said.
He acknowledged that mechanisms requiring unanimous approval from EU member states could create obstacles for Turkey due to potential vetoes from Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration. Nevertheless, he stressed that the larger €800 billion fund, combined with the rapid expansion of Turkish companies and joint ventures across Europe, would allow Turkey to leverage EU financial instruments more effectively.
Fidan said Ankara’s broader strategic vision is to cultivate prosperity-focused partnerships not only with the EU but also across the east, north and the Mediterranean. While recognizing the EU’s success as a supranational structure, he argued that it “has not evolved into a civilization-transcending entity.”
He added that Turkey’s major advances in infrastructure, energy, defense, healthcare, communications and education—achieved largely without substantial EU funding—have positioned the country ahead of many European states. “Turkey today possesses infrastructure surpassing that of numerous European nations, and its population is approaching 90 million,” he said.
Cyprus Question: “Turkish Cypriots Will Never Accept Subordination”
On Cyprus, Fidan addressed recent provocations on the island, noting that they were neither new nor limited to certain political circles, but also included fringe elements within the Turkish Cypriot community. He reaffirmed Turkey’s unwavering commitment to protecting the equal sovereign rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“They will never accept a second-class status, and neither will we as a guarantor state,” he said, reiterating that a two-state arrangement remains “the most realistic, sustainable and stabilizing model.”
Fidan said he met recently with TRNC President Tufan Erhürman during a visit to Turkey, where both sides agreed to deepen coordination on foreign policy, public messaging and joint strategic actions. “It was a highly constructive meeting, and I am confident that our cooperation will advance in a more aligned and effective manner,” he said.
He criticized the EU for “importing the Greek Cypriot problem into its institutional framework,” arguing that the bloc’s unanimity rules have been repeatedly exploited, leading to persistent internal gridlock. As a result, he said, the EU is now debating a shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting, particularly because it is unable to move forward on several major issues — “including those related to Turkey.”