Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Türkiye
The inaction of the European Union (EU) in view of the arrest of an opposition leader in Türkiye is concerning international observers. This inaction may have implications for the credibility of the European project itself.
Brussels is not knowing how to handle with another large slip towards the Autocracy in Türkiye.
In an article in the, the specialist in International Relations at the University of Leiden (Netherlands), That’s what gurkanexplains why.
Over the past decade, fundamental democratic institutions have been systematically eroded in Türkiye, under the domain of Recep Tayyip Erdoganwhich is not able to since 2003.
The freedom of the media, the independence of judicial power and civil society have been the target of attacks. An important turning point occurred in 2016, when Turkey abandoned its parliamentary democracy in favor of a hyper-centralized presidential system. Since then, the National Parliament has been marginalized and almost all controls of the executive branch were eroded.
But one New Age It may have started on March 19, with the mayor of Istanbul.
İmamoğlu is seen as Erdoğan’s main electoral rival. With this detention, the presidency was trembled. This is not just a oppositionbut potentially indicates the End of free elections in Türkiyeaccording to some observers.
All of this has been happening really ‘by the EU’ in a country that remains at least nominally candidate for joining the EU. However, Brussels has kept silent. This silence can prove a strategic error.
Why the silence of the EU?
The reaction of the EU to the detention of İmamoğlu has been, “at the very least, cautious,” writes Gurkan Seda.
Ursula von der LeyenPresident of the European Commission, issued a carefully written expression of “Deep concern”. The EU spokesman repeated a family chorus, saying that, as a candidate country, Turkey must “defend democratic values.”
In your joint statement, Kaja KallasHigh representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and the security policy, and Marta KosCommission for widening, they adopted a equally cautious tone. Turkey should apply the highest democratic standards and practices, ”they said.
Only the European Parliament, the EU values of the EU values, adopted a more direct position. Several political groups openly criticized Turkey during the April 1 plenary session.
But these expressions of concern and acts of solidarity to Ekrem İmamoğlu not accompanied by credible actions or condemnations powerful enough to have a deterrent effect on the Turkish government.
As many observers noted, EU strategic interests have increasingly overlapping their commitment to democratic principles.
“It’s no secret that the EU never had a coherent strategic vision of Turkey,” writes the expert.
In a paradigmatic example of the transactional nature of the relationship, the EU entrusted the refugee challenge to Türkiye in 2016, in exchange for financial aid to Ankara. This was an agreement oriented not by long-term goals, but by short-term pragmatism.
Today, in an era of growing geopolitical instability, Turkey has become a more important partner for the EU. Ankara runs NATO’s second largest army, has a rapidly developing defense industry and has a vast experience in peacekeeping operations and outside the area. All of these factors are increasingly valuable as the US, under the presidency of Donald Trump, moves away from European security.
If we add the fear of destabilization in the immediate neighborhood of the EU, it becomes clearer why Brussels can prefer “stability” under erdoğan to Uncertainty of the Posterdoğan period.
The wrong strategy
In his article, Gurkan writes that not facing Turkey, at a time like this, is a mistake – “and a Error with long -term consequences“.
The EU should worry about what is happening in Türkiye, not only because of Turkish democracy, but also for its own security. The way it responds has implications for the credibility of the European project itself.
As Hungary’s position has shown Russia since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, if there is no agreement on fundamental values, the alignment of strategic interests becomes increasingly difficult. Turkey is a self -confident and assertive regional power and will not hesitate to follow an foreign policy that may differ ideologically from the EU.
Turkey’s recent foreign policy decisions illustrate it perfectly. A paradigmatic example was Türkiye’s decision to buy S-400 Antim Suissil Defense Systems to Russia, which created interoperability problems with NATO allies.
In addition, autocratic ideas tend to be contagious. When a country follows a more anti -liberal trajectory, it affects its widest neighborhood. If we close our eyes to Türkiye’s authoritarian turning and cooperate in security and defense, We risk legitimizing Erdoğan’s governance model. This could further reinforce the illiberal axis in the region. Lastly, the EU risks Alienate the Democrats and younger generations In Türkiye.
Despite the ups and downs in the relations between EU and Turkey, Turkish citizens have consistently demonstrated strong EU support.
“Maintaining this dynamic is not just an ethical responsibility or a matter of credibility for the EU – it is also a long -term investment in building a more democratic, reliable and stable neighbor,” Gurkan concludes.
