Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the two NATO allies. The discussions centered on Turkey’s long-standing bid for European Union (EU) membership, military cooperation, and efforts to mediate peace between Ukraine and Russia.
During a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex, Tusk reaffirmed Poland’s support for Turkey’s EU accession.
“We hope that Turkey’s EU membership process becomes realistic and attainable,” Tusk stated. “We have always supported Turkey in this regard and will continue to do so.”
President Erdoğan, who has been vocal about Turkey’s place in Europe, reiterated his stance on the EU’s strategic necessity of integrating Turkey.
“If the European Union wants to prevent its decline in power and influence, it can only achieve this through Turkey’s full membership,” Erdoğan said, underscoring that EU accession remains a “strategic objective” for Ankara.
Ukraine Conflict and Security Cooperation
Beyond EU membership, the two leaders discussed ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Tusk emphasized Turkey’s role as a mediator in the conflict, a position Ankara has held since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to “bringing about a just peace” and offered to host peace talks while providing “all possible assistance.”
As two of NATO’s largest military forces, Poland and Turkey also explored defense cooperation. Erdoğan noted that “Turkey and Poland command NATO’s largest land armies in Europe and are key allies securing the alliance’s eastern and southern flanks.”
Tusk, in turn, expressed Poland’s willingness to deepen military collaboration, stating that “Poland is ready to cooperate with Turkey both in defense and the defense industry.”
Turkey’s Strategic Role in Europe
Turkey’s broader role in European security was another focal point of the meeting. Erdoğan stressed that European security cannot be confined to EU member states alone.
“We believe that all steps related to European security should be planned together with Turkey, as this aligns with our shared interests,” he stated.
Erdoğan also criticized Turkey’s exclusion from EU defense procurement and post-war reconstruction programs for Ukraine, arguing that Turkey’s contributions to Ukraine’s defense and stability should be recognized.
“Given our defense industry’s support for Ukraine and the contributions of our private sector despite wartime conditions, we see no justification for Turkey being excluded from EU defense projects and reconstruction efforts,” Erdoğan remarked.
Shifting Dynamics in EU-Turkey Relations
The visit comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, with Poland emerging as a leading European defense power and Turkey playing an increasingly crucial role in NATO’s security framework.
While Turkey’s EU accession process has been stalled for years, Warsaw’s growing influence within the bloc could play a role in reshaping discussions. Tusk indicated that Poland would work “to make the European perspective increasingly viable for Turkey and taken seriously by all partners in Europe.”
With Ankara balancing its ties between the West and Russia, and Poland leading European security initiatives, the meeting signals a potential new chapter in EU-Turkey relations—one where defense, diplomacy, and economic cooperation take center stage.
