 Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, #Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.){kind=link}
Turkey seeks to join the European Union’s new €150 billion ($176 billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.
Speaking after talks with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Helsinki, Fidan said Turkey’s inclusion in the EU defense framework would strengthen European security cooperation.
“Turkey is a NATO ally who provides a critical contribution to Europe’s security,” Fidan told reporters. “It is of great importance that Turkey is included in the EU’s defense and security initiatives, including the SAFE mechanism.”
SAFE, launched by the European Commission to coordinate long-term defense procurement and capability development among EU member states, allows participation by select non-EU countries subject to unanimous approval from all 27 member governments.
Although Turkey is technically eligible to take part, its accession would require full consensus — something Greece has indicated it could block.
Valtonen voiced Finland’s support for Ankara’s participation, saying the EU should promote “equal terms in defense industry cooperation, which we strongly need at this moment.”
A Turkish Defense Ministry source told Agence France-Presse that Ankara hopes to secure backing from Germany to overcome opposition from Greece and gain entry to the SAFE initiative.
© Agence France-Presse