Athens sounds alarm over Türkiye’s growing influence in European arms industry

Greece has expressed concern over Türkiye’s growing footprint in Europe’s defence sector, with Greek media reporting on May 19 that Athens has instructed its ambassadors across European capitals to raise the issue with their respective host governments.

According to Turkish Daily Sabah, despite ongoing efforts at rapprochement between the two NATO members, tensions continue to simmer, particularly over longstanding disputes in the Aegean Sea.

While diplomatic ties are improving, both countries are simultaneously bolstering their defence capabilities. Türkiye has drawn international attention with its fast-developing defence industry, particularly through the export of domestically-produced uncrewed aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and other military systems. At the same time, Greece has pursued a series of new arms acquisitions to reinforce its own military readiness.

According to the Greek press, Athens is particularly alarmed by the European Union’s anticipated adoption of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) regulation. The regulation, which has already been approved in principle by EU member states, is expected to be formally endorsed by the General Affairs Council later this month. A key provision of the regulation allows for joint defence procurement projects to include non-EU third countries, such as Türkiye, raising concerns in Athens.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis voiced these concerns publicly during a recent joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Mitsotakis stressed that the EU must “choose partners carefully” in strengthening its defence industry, insisting that those partners “must be aligned with European foreign policy.” According to Greek media, Athens is now pushing for unanimous voting on any such joint defence ventures involving non-EU partners, which could act as a brake on Türkiye’s participation. These concerns reportedly stem from a recent partnership between Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace and Türkiye’s prominent drone manufacturer Baykar, which has symbolised Ankara’s increasing presence in the European defence landscape.

Athens’ apprehension comes amid broader shifts in the transatlantic security balance. As the United States appears to reassess its historic military support to Europe, the EU is seeking to ramp up its own defence capabilities. Türkiye, though not an EU member, has expressed strong interest in contributing to European security structures.

Speaking at a press conference following a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Antalya last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored Türkiye’s role in continental security: “As NATO’s second-largest military, Türkiye will continue to play a crucial role in the European security architecture through its military capabilities and defence industry infrastructure.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan echoed these sentiments during the sixth European Political Community summit held in Albania. Addressing the broader geopolitical climate, Erdoğan called for a “transformation” within Europe rooted in the principle of indivisible security and a more equitable sharing of prosperity. “At this critical time when we are discussing the future of Europe’s security, efforts by the EU to develop its defence industry are beneficial,” he stated. Erdoğan has repeatedly emphasized the need for deeper cooperation between Brussels and Ankara in addressing the continent’s evolving security needs.

By Tamilla Hasanova