Last week in Ankara I met with the Turkish Defence and Energy Ministers and members of the Defence Committee in the Turkish Parliament. During my meetings there was one main recurring theme: European Union members do not appreciate Turkey’s contribution to European security enough, especially France and Austria.
Short-sighted capitals in Western Europe need to open their eyes and see Turkey for what it really is: A valued NATO partner, a secular state bridging Europe and the Islamic world, a developing economy and a major player in the energy market.
Turkey played a key role in NATO during the cold war by being one of two NATO members that bordered the Soviet Union. Following the Cold War their contribution to European security is just as valid. They have sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan and have commanded ISAF twice since 2002. They have also contributed to a number of NATO and EU military missions in the Balkans.
Turkey’s geo-strategic location also makes it important to Europe’s energy security. Turkey is the gateway to the resource-rich Caucasus and Caspian Basin and controls the Bosphorus, one of the most important and narrowest shipping straits in the world.
Turkey is viewed as a regional leader amongst the Turkic speaking countries of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The importance of these countries in energy security and fighting terrorism cannot be overstated. Strong relations with Turkey equates to warm relations with the Turkic speaking countries.
Who wouldn’t want Turkey in their club?
The current Government in Ankara has recently been under domestic pressure to speed up democratic reforms in order to increase chances of EU membership.
The truth is that Turkey has been initiating democratic reforms long before the EU existed and will continue to do so, at a pace that best works for Turkey, with or without the carrot of EU membership. It is the role of Western European countries to encourage and help Turkey through this process, not discourage it.
To unequivocally denounce Turkey’s EU membership as an impossibility is both irresponsible to Europe’s future security and disrespectful to Turkey’s longstanding role in NATO. Britain has a long history of supporting Turkey’s EU membership once the appropriate democratic reforms have been met. Our security needs require us to support this valued strategic partner.
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