Turkish concern at EU defence aims

Turkey’s Ambassador to NATO has warned that defence policies outlined in the EU’s draft constitution could damage EU/NATO relations, in an interview with EUpolitix.com.

As the launch of intergovernmental talks on the draft text looms, Ahmet Uzumcu said Turkey was concerned at moves to push forward ‘enhanced cooperation’ – which would allow a group of EU members to act alone on defence matters.

“I think this might have an effect on NATO/EU relations which concerns us,” he said.  

And he cautioned the body of EU and national leaders tasked to finalise the constitutional text to “keep in mind the future of the NATO/EU relationship and exert every effort to maintain it in an effective way.”

While stressing Turkey’s support for a strong European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), he argued that “we are against the EU establishing a collective defence arrangement for its members. We think this should be maintained within the NATO context.”

Uzumcu also underlined Turkish opposition to plans by Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg to create a separate European military headquarters near to Brussels.

“Such structures outside of NATO could be a duplication because we think that the current arrangements and opportunities have not been tested fully,” he said.

The issue is set to be discussed on Friday as EU defence ministers meet for an informal meeting in Rome.

Also on the table is a UK counterproposal to create an EU military planning cell within SHAPE – NATO’s headquarters in southern Belgium.

Despite drawing criticism from some of its EU neighbours, London’s plan has been given a favourable nod in Ankara.

“There are already some representations by EU countries at SHAPE so I think that a planning cell could be a contribution, a new input, to the existing structures. But going further than that is, to say the least, not a timely proposition,” said Uzumcu.

According to the ambassador, Turkey – as a candidate for EU membership and a long-standing NATO ally - has a special role in bridging US and European defence goals.

As Turkey enjoys “a geo-strategic importance vis-à-vis both American and European security initiatives, we believe Turkey could play a special role in this context,” he said.

And as EU defence ministers gather today to discuss Europe’s commitment to military capabilities, Uzumcu has urged other NATO allies to spend more.

“Other countries have reduced their defence expenditures to very low levels and this influences adversely the overall collective capacity of NATO. So some efforts have to be made,” he said.

 

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