Türkiye awaits EU move on SAFE Defense Program amid inclusion debate

Türkiye's Stance on EU's SAFE Program

Sources indicate that Türkiye's potential participation in the European Union's SAFE Program, a initiative designed for common defense procurement and capacity building, hinges on the bloc's willingness to develop a suitable political and technical framework. While Germany is reportedly advocating for Türkiye's inclusion, opposition from some member states, like Greece, remains a hurdle. Officials emphasize that Türkiye will not be the one to force the conditions for its own entry, placing the onus squarely on the EU to make a move.

Ankara's Strategic Calculations

Ankara's position is clear: it does not wish to be left out of the European defense architecture, but it also remains wary of any model that might constrain its burgeoning defense industry. The SAFE mechanism was conceived as an EU-internal framework, with some members insisting it remains exclusively European. However, sources suggest that participation in collective EU projects and continued bilateral defense cooperation with individual member states are not mutually exclusive paths for Türkiye.

Existing Cooperation as a Foundation

The robust existing defense industrial partnerships between Türkiye and numerous EU countries form a critical backdrop to this discussion. Sources point out that joint procurement projects could theoretically occur under SAFE, but they also highlight a key reality: "We already sell defense products to most of them." This underscores the view that direct bilateral cooperation and potential SAFE collaboration can proceed on parallel tracks, without one excluding the other.