The Strategic Significance and Direction of Turkey-EU Relations in the New Era

Authors : Murat Ercan, Murat Ercan

Pages : 87-100

View : 42 | Download : 16

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study analyzes the historical background of Turkey-European Union (EU) relations, the dynamics of recurring crises, and the newly emerging cooperation model shaped within the strategic conjuncture of the 2022-2025 period. The research evaluates the trajectory of Turkey-EU relations from the 1963 Ankara Agreement to the present, focusing on periodic ruptures and negotiation processes, with particular attention to the political tensions that have affected bilateral relations, especially since 2016. Furthermore, the study reveals how developments such as the Russia-Ukraine War, the increasing importance of NATO, energy supply security challenges, and the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States have led the EU to redefine its foreign policy and security priorities. In this context, Turkey’s geopolitical position in the Black Sea, its role in energy transit routes, its military capacity within NATO, and its diplomatic influence in regional crises have significantly increased its strategic value for the EU. Within this framework, the Turkey-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue Meeting held on April 3, 2025, has been evaluated as a turning point not only for reviving economic relations but also for initiating a multidimensional cooperation process covering critical areas such as energy, security, and digital transformation. The study concludes that in this new period, Turkey-EU relations have moved away from a full membership perspective and have started to be reshaped on the basis of “selective cooperation” and “strategic partnership.” The sustainability of this new relationship model depends on the establishment of mutual trust, the operationalization of dialogue mechanisms, and the development of multilayered cooperation models based on common interests. It is further suggested that if Turkey assumes an active role in new platforms such as the European Political Community, and if the EU adopts a more inclusive and pragmatic strategy instead of exclusionary approaches, relations may evolve into a more structured, functional, and sustainable partnership framework.
Keywords : Türkiye-AB İlişkileri, Yüksek Düzeyli Ekonomik Diyalog, Stratejik Ortaklık, Seçici İş Birliği, Rusya-Ukrayna Savaşı.

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