Security safeguards established by the European Union regarding third-country participation in the SAFE defence programme are operating as obstacles to Turkey’s participation, a development that primarily annoys Ankara.
Turkey is again using its NATO membership to achieve participation in a quintessentially European programme, with the North Atlantic alliance’s Secretary General rolling out the red carpet for Ankara’s sake.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly requested, according to information from Athens newspaper Kathimerini, during the latest Coreper (27 EU ambassadors) meeting that EU member states give a “confidence vote” to Turkey for its participation in the European defence mechanism SAFE (Security Action for Europe).
NATO chief Mark Rutte seeks EU confidence vote for Turkey participation
According to the relevant publication, this is not the first time the NATO Secretary General has attempted to encourage EU defence cooperation with Turkey.
However, his previous interventions were not as direct as this is the first time he appeared at a Coreper session. This move comes almost simultaneously with confirmation from the Commission that Ankara submitted an application of interest in the SAFE programme.
Turkey’s participation in SAFE is not an easy matter as it requires the agreement of all 27 European Union member states.
Given the current state of affairs—with Turkey occupying part of the Republic of Cyprus and continuously threatening both Cyprus and Greece—it is sufficiently clear that there exists, from the outset, a double veto from Nicosia and Athens regarding Turkish participation.
Double veto from Cyprus and Greece threatens Turkish involvement
European Council President Antonio Costa, during his visit to Nicosia, was clear from the EU Institutions’ side regarding the prerequisites for third-country participation in the SAFE programme: “The rules of the SAFE programme are very clear. It is open to third countries, but to third countries that do not constitute a threat to the security of every member state. States that attack or threaten the security of a member state cannot be allowed to use SAFE. And for SAFE to be used by a third country, it must sign a defence agreement that must be approved by all member states”.
Cyprus minister emphasises security criteria for third-country participation
The issue of European defence and security was one of the topics on the General Affairs Council agenda. Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, in her intervention, referred to the SAFE programme.
Raouna emphasised again that the programme constitutes an important tool for EU defence readiness, including cooperation with countries that share the same interests and challenges with member states and the EU.
For this reason, she added, there is a strong conviction that third countries that do not meet these criteria but contravene the defence and security interests of the EU and its member states cannot participate in the programme.
