EU Chief Calls Turkey a “Key Partner” Despite Tensions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described Turkey as a "key partner" for the European Union, even as Ankara continues to generate friction across the Eastern Mediterranean, from contested Aegean airspace to the ongoing occupation of northern Cyprus.
The remarks signal Brussels is doubling down on its strategy of engaging Turkey despite longstanding disputes with EU member states Greece and Cyprus. Turkey's NATO membership and its role as a migration buffer between the Middle East and Europe have long made it strategically valuable to the bloc, giving Ankara significant leverage in negotiations with Brussels.
Turkey's cooperation is considered too important to jeopardize over bilateral disputes with member states.
Von der Leyen's comments come as geopolitical pressure across the region remains intense. Russia's war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and surging migration flows have pushed the EU to prioritize broad coalition-building over holding individual partners to account on rule-of-law or territorial concerns.
For Greece and Cyprus, the framing will raise familiar frustrations. Ankara has consistently used its status as an indispensable partner to deflect EU criticism over its military presence in Cyprus, its violations of Greek airspace, and its disputes over Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
The EU has pursued a carrot-heavy approach with Turkey for years, offering upgraded trade agreements and modernized customs union talks in exchange for cooperation on migration. Critics argue this approach has consistently rewarded provocation with concessions.
How much weight Von der Leyen's "key partner" label will carry in future negotiations with Ankara remains to be seen, but the signal from Brussels is clear: Turkey's cooperation is considered too important to jeopardize over bilateral disputes with member states.
