EU Pushes for Turkey’s Inclusion in SAFE Program Amid Greek Resistance

The European Union is intensifying efforts to see Turkey successful its €150 cardinal Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, designed to fortify defence manufacture investments. Greece, however, continues to importune that Ankara indispensable wantonness its assertive claims successful the Aegean earlier being allowed to participate.

EU Urgency arsenic SAFE Deadline Approaches

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, visiting Athens connected Monday, is expected to renew unit connected Greece to assistance its objections to Turkey’s information successful SAFE. The urgency stems from the looming deadline of November 30 for countries wishing to entree SAFE loans, which purpose to boost European defence capabilities.

On the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit successful Copenhagen, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The cardinal taxable was the imaginable unblocking of Turkey’s engagement successful SAFE.

Greece Stands Firm connected Aegean Concerns

Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s position: Turkey cannot articulation SAFE unless it abandons threats of warfare implicit imaginable Greek expansions of territorial waters and renounces its “gray zones” claims disputing Greek sovereignty implicit definite islands and islets.

While Cyprus and France align with Greece’s objections, astir EU members favour Turkey’s inclusion, recognizing the strategical worth of NATO’s second-largest service and its robust defence industry. Many spot Turkey arsenic a indispensable concern spouse for Europe, peculiarly successful defence projects that necessitate some accumulation capabilities and operational engagement.

Diverging European Views

Several Eastern European countries person expressed concerns regarding Turkey’s nuanced stance connected Ukraine and its cooperative narration with Russia. Nonetheless, these nations admit that Europe presently benefits from Turkey’s defence manufacturing capableness and willingness to enactment successful associated subject operations if needed.

Meanwhile, Greece’s hesitation to stock its aging Mirage 2000-5 combatant jets with different EU members—who could, successful turn, enactment Ukraine—has caused friction with immoderate Eastern European allies and EU partners. Scandinavian countries, peculiarly Finland and Sweden, besides presumption Turkey favorably successful the SAFE context, contempt caller challenges Turkey posed during their NATO rank applications.

Strategic Balance successful the Aegean and Europe

The statement underscores a broader hostility betwixt nationalist information concerns and corporate European defence interests. Greece seeks guarantees that its sovereignty and territorial claims volition not beryllium undermined, portion the EU emphasizes concern collaboration and operational readiness successful the defence sector. The coming weeks are expected to find whether Greece volition support its veto menace oregon hold to Turkey’s SAFE information nether circumstantial conditions.

Source: pagenews.gr

Διαβάστε όλες τις τελευταίες Ειδήσεις από την Ελλάδα και τον Κόσμο