Turkey Urges Access to EU Defence Funds Boasting Soaring Exports, and Rising NATO Influence

Turkey is intensifying efforts to gain access to EU defense funds, highlighting its NATO contributions and booming defense exports. Ahead of a NATO meeting, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler called on European allies to lift spending restrictions that exclude non-EU states like Turkey. Simultaneously, Ankara eyes a reset in ties with Washington via a possible Erdogan-Trump meeting, while pushing its defense industry into the global spotlight with record-setting arms exports.

Turkey Presses EU to Lift Barriers on Defence Cooperation

Ahead of a key NATO defense ministers’ meeting, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has urged European allies to open the bloc’s €150 billion defense fund—known as the SAFE scheme—to non-EU states, including Turkey.

In written remarks to Reuters, Güler argued that restrictive EU funding rules risk sidelining Turkey from Europe’s evolving security architecture.

“Allies need to spend not only more, but also smarter,” Güler said, stressing Turkey’s technological edge in drone warfare, naval platforms, and air defenses.

Under current rules, 65% of the SAFE fund must be allocated to projects involving EU, EEA, or Ukrainian firms—effectively excluding Turkey despite its candidate status.

Güler described such constraints as “short-sighted” and called for cooperation with “open-minded and visionary allies” across a wide range of systems, from electronic warfare to rocket systems and radar.

Greece-Turkey Tensions Complicate EU Access

Turkey’s access to EU funds faces political roadblocks—chiefly from Greece. Athens has reportedly demanded Ankara formally abandon its longstanding casus belli over Aegean territorial waters as a condition for participating in EU defense projects.

Güler dismissed these terms as misguided, warning against “dragging multilateral platforms into bilateral disputes.”

Ankara Seeks to Revive Ties with U.S. and F-35 Program

Ankara also hopes to repair strained defense ties with the U.S. stemming from Turkey’s 2019 acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems, which led to its removal from the F-35 stealth jet program.

Güler signaled cautious optimism about a potential meeting between President Tayyip Erdoğan and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“A Trump-Erdoğan meeting could breathe new life into bilateral defense ties,” he said, adding that while Turkey will not give up the S-400s, it is open to rejoining the F-35 project if sanctions are lifted.

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Turkish Defence Exports Boom as Ankara Eyes $10B Target

Turkey’s defense industry has emerged as a global force. According to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, exports from January to April 2025 surged to $2.2 billion—up 67% year-on-year.

“We now export to 185 countries with a portfolio exceeding 230 systems,” Yılmaz said, declaring a goal to surpass $10 billion annually.

Haluk Görgün, President of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency, reported that Turkey now accounts for 65% of the global UAV market, and its systems are deployed by 75% of NATO forces.

The sector includes 3,500 companies employing over 100,000 people, and Turkey is planning to join the elite nuclear submarine club after completing its domestically built MILDEN project.

Turkey Highlights NATO Leadership, Regional Commitments

During the NATO ministerial in Brussels, Güler reiterated that Turkey—home to NATO’s second-largest army—remains a cornerstone of the alliance’s operations and missions.

“Türkiye is now an indispensable actor in the international security architecture,” he said, emphasizing its role in peacekeeping missions such as Kosovo.

Turkey previously commanded NATO’s KFOR mission and will reassume leadership in October. Güler underlined Ankara’s commitment to fighting terrorism and called on allies to show solidarity.

He also met with Turkish military personnel serving at NATO, urging them to uphold discipline, professionalism, and national values.

Keywords: Turkey EU defense funds, Yaşar Güler NATO, SAFE scheme EU, Erdogan Trump F-35 meeting, Turkish defense exports, Turkey nuclear submarine, UAV market leader, Greece Turkey EU tensions, NATO Turkey role

Meta description: Turkey presses EU allies to lift defense fund restrictions and seeks to revive U.S. ties via a Trump-Erdogan meeting. Meanwhile, Turkish defense exports surge 67% as Ankara cements its role in NATO and global arms markets.

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