Hakan Fidan: European security cannot be reduced to the EU alone

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed that European security cannot be limited to the European Union alone, emphasizing that Türkiye plays a central role. Fidan also stated that the disagreements between the US and Europe are manageable and that Europe must shoulder more of the defense burden.

Scraper SystemJuly 07, 2026, 11:03 AM

Hakan Fidan: European security cannot be reduced to the EU alone

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that European security cannot be reduced to the European Union (EU) alone, that a more holistic approach is needed, and that Türkiye plays a central role in this framework.

Fidan spoke at the event titled "European Security After the Ankara Summit: Strengthening Cooperation Among NATO Allies Across Europe," jointly organized in Ankara by the Foreign Ministry's Center for Strategic Research (SAM) and Chatham House.

In his speech, Fidan noted that NATO should focus on increasing its strategic capacity in the new era, and that the alliance must move beyond being a structure that merely reacts to current threats and adopt a longer-term and comprehensive security vision.

Touching on the current disagreements between the US and Europe, Fidan stated that these differences will not turn into an uncontrollable crisis at the NATO summit and can be managed. He emphasized that US President Donald Trump's participation in the summit is important for managing the existing problems.

Türkiye's central role

Fidan reiterated that European security cannot be confined to the EU framework and that Türkiye plays a critical role. Stating that Türkiye supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Fidan also said that maintaining open diplomatic contacts and dialogue channels with Russia is necessary for European security.

Noting that NATO's defense industry potential should not be evaluated solely through an EU lens, Fidan stated that countries with advanced defense industries, such as Türkiye and the United Kingdom, are natural and necessary cooperation partners in the context of European security.

Burden sharing and responsibility

Fidan said that the US calls for fairer burden sharing should not be perceived by Europe as psychological pressure or a threat. Stating that European countries must take on more responsibility, Fidan said that strengthening Europe's defense capacity is essential not only for NATO's future but also for increasing the strategic resilience of the European continent.

Fidan added that mutual accusations between Europe and the US will not dominate the NATO summit to be held in Ankara, and that the most difficult task was convincing Trump to attend the summit, but once that goal was achieved, the most critical phase was behind them.

Hakan Fidan: European security cannot be reduced to the EU alone