Turkey pushes for larger role in Europe’s defense as Trump questions NATO

ISTANBUL — As the United States under President Donald Trump rethinks its security guarantees to Europe , Turkey is making the case for closer integration into the continent’s defense architecture. Speaking at a conference marking the 74th anniversary of Turkey’s entry to NATO, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler criticized the European Union’s reluctance to fully open its defense initiatives to Ankara. Turkey is a member of NATO but not the EU, which means two sets of rules govern — and in many cases limit — cooperation with members of the bloc. “Otherwise, we assess that such an approach by the European Union would cause more harm to Europe’s security and resilience than the reduction of U.S. forces in Europe,” Güler said, voicing Ankara’s clearest warnings yet against EU defense initiatives that marginalize non-member allies such as Turkey. “Turkey is no longer a flank country on NATO’s southeastern periphery,” Güler said April 9 at a conference organized by the Presidency of Communications and the SETA Foundation. “It is a central ally capable of generating security across the entire European theater.” Güler’s remarks, delivered ahead of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara this summer, offer a window into Turkey’s proclaimed place within the alliance as well as Ankara’s assessment of a rapidly transforming international security landscape. He announced that Turkey will assume command of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force from 2028 to 2030. “Turkey has become one of the few NATO allies capa…