Polish Prime Minister and European Council President Donald Tusk’s visit is expected to strengthen EU-Turkey relations and assess Turkey’s strategic role in the evolving European security architecture, especially amid growing challenges and decreasing reliance on the United States.
Tusk has been vocal about the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense. Speaking at the Ukraine conference in London on March 3, he highlighted the paradox of a continent with 500 million people depending on the U.S. for protection against a much smaller adversary. “Today, in Europe, we do not lack economic strength or manpower, but the belief that we are a global power,” he stated.
European Defense Spending: Falling Short of NATO Targets
The visit comes as the European Union grapples with inadequate defense spending levels. According to the European Defence Agency (EDA), EU countries collectively allocate only 1.9% of GDP to defense, below NATO’s recommended 2% threshold. Even when including non-EU NATO members such as the U.K. and Turkey, the bloc’s defense spending remains suboptimal.
Among EU states, Poland, Greece, Estonia, and Latvia rank among the highest spenders, while nations such as Ireland, Luxembourg, and Malta allocate less than 1% of GDP. Major European powers, including Germany (1.52%), France (2.26%), Italy (1.61%), and Spain (1.51%), have also failed to meet expectations.
“Rearm Europe” Plan and Strategic Autonomy Challenges
Facing increasing security threats and economic constraints, the EU has launched the “Rearm Europe” initiative, aimed at boosting defense spending by 800 billion euros ($871.11 billion). However, internal economic struggles have hindered significant progress. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Europe to ramp up its military investments, warning that the U.S. may not always provide security guarantees.
With this backdrop, European policymakers are exploring new defense partnerships, including enhanced collaboration with Turkey, which boasts a rapidly growing defense industry. Tusk’s visit is expected to focus on defining Turkey’s potential role in the European security framework, particularly as the EU navigates strategic autonomy debates and supply chain challenges in arms production.
Tusk’s visit to Turkey is likely to mark the beginning of deeper security collaboration between Brussels and Ankara as Europe reassesses its defense strategies amid growing geopolitical tensions. With Poland positioning itself as a bridge between Turkey and the EU, the visit could pave the way for broader discussions on integrating Turkey into Europe’s evolving security framework.
