Greek attempts to veto Türkiye’s EU defence projects fail amid strong NATO backing

Greece's efforts to exclude Türkiye from European Union defence projects have been thwarted, as a new voting system and strong support from NATO have rendered Athens' veto attempts unsuccessful.

Addressing EU leaders, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sharply criticized the Greek government's attempts to block Türkiye’s participation, calling them "empty and unnecessary," Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

He particularly took issue with Greece's efforts to send "urgent coded messages" to EU capitals urging them to exclude Türkiye from key defence initiatives.

Rutte emphasized Türkiye's significant role in global defence and its critical partnerships, particularly with the United States. " Türkiye's defence production capacity is about 30 times that of France," he stated. "Türkiye is a leader in unmanned systems and a crucial partner of the US in munitions. We cannot ignore this picture."  

He further stressed Türkiye's strategic importance to NATO, describing the country as "indispensable in strategic and technical terms" and an essential player in EU defence projects.

The attempt to veto Türkiye's involvement was effectively blocked by changes to the EU’s voting system. The implementation of a qualified majority voting system within the EU’s SAFE regulations meant that Greece’s objections were not enough to prevent Türkiye from participating. According to EU diplomatic sources, the new system ensures that " Türkiye can no longer be excluded, and this fact must be accepted." 

By Vafa Guliyeva