War In Ukraine Has Transformed Europe’s Security Architecture And Turkey’s Role In It — Expert

Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Europe's security system, compelling Europe to overhaul its defense strategies and increasing Turkey's significance within the new security architecture, according to Turkish international affairs expert Güngör Yavuzaslan. The two-month conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which commenced on February 24, 2022, is not merely a territorial dispute but a structural upheaval that has prompted a reassessment of international law, territorial integrity, and the deterrence framework that once guaranteed peace on the European continent, Yavuzaslan explained.

The crisis's origins can be traced back to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in Donbas, which were set in motion as early as 2014. However, the conflict encompasses more profound geopolitical, energy-related, and ideological factors. Europe, which had previously relied on normative values and economic ties for security, faced a profound geopolitical shock due to this open invasion, compelling it to rethink its defense strategies, Yavuzaslan stated.

Among the most notable changes, Yavuzaslan noted NATO's transition away from a crisis-management model towards deterrence and collective defense, the reinforcement of the alliance's eastern flank with the accession of Finland and Sweden, and Germany's revised defense policy. Yavuzaslan firmly believes that following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's security architecture is undergoing a complete re-founding, with Turkey emerging as a strategically central country connecting various geopolitical spaces.

Nevertheless, Yavuzaslan critiques the current level of institutional cooperation between the EU and Turkey in security and defense matters, arguing that restricting Ankara's involvement in European defense mechanisms contradicts the EU's strategic interests. Furthermore, Yavuzaslan draws a connection between Europe's security transformation and the evolving dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa, asserting that Europe's security cannot be isolated from developments in these regions.

In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed Turkey's desire to resume its EU accession process, including activation of relevant mechanisms and the commencement of negotiation meetings, during a meeting with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the NATO summit in Ankara.