Türkiye is evaluating a potential non-combat mission to monitor the line of contact with Russia in eastern Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on 13 March, citing people familiar with the matter.
Türkiye’s increased involvement comes as Europe scrambles to arm itself after President Donald Trump reduced aid for Ukraine and cautioned against reliance on the United States. Türkiye’s potential peacekeeping role in Ukraine could lead to deeper defense integration with the EU.
The report indicates Türkiye is leveraging its strategic position between East and West.
Erdogan made his ambitions clear during a recent iftar dinner with foreign ambassadors in Ankara. “We hope that our European friends will understand the role of the new Türkiye in the reshaping world and determine their strategies accordingly,” he stated.
Bloomberg reports that Türkiye possesses the largest fleet of F-16 fighter jets in NATO after the United States. The country hosts the Incirlik Air Base and an early-warning radar at Kurecik, which forms a critical part of NATO’s ballistic-missile defense for Europe.
Türkiye has already been supplying 155mm shells to Ukraine and has developed a growing arms industry. It produces combat drones, armored vehicles, and naval ships. Italian company Leonardo SpA has partnered with a firm run by Erdogan’s son-in-law to develop drones.
According to the report, Türkiye is not just seeking a peacekeeping role. Erdogan is pushing for EU membership and closer defense and economic cooperation with Europe.
“To put it bluntly: European security without Türkiye is unthinkable,” Erdogan said.
Türkiye controlled crucial maritime routes and was key to an initial agreement allowing Ukrainian grain to reach international markets through the Black Sea. Türkiye also serves as a barrier to refugees entering Europe.
However, Bloomberg cites concerns that deeper involvement in Ukraine might overextend Türkiye’s military. The country already has troops deployed in northern Syria, Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia, northern Cyprus, Qatar, and Azerbaijan.
The report also points out that sustaining Türkiye’s resurgence depends heavily on the 71-year-old Erdogan, who lacks a clear successor within his AK Party.
“Erdogan needs closer security and economic cooperation both with the US and European allies to improve Türkiye’s economy and bolster his chances of extending his stay in power,” Serhat Erkmen, director of the Pros&Cons Security and Risk Analysis Center in Ankara, told Bloomberg.
According to the report, Türkiye has been courting China, Russia, and Iran while opening nearly 100 new diplomatic missions worldwide over the past two decades. It has also worked as a mediator in wars in Gaza, Somalia, and Ukraine.
Read also:
- Kremlin rejects Trump’s Ukraine peace envoy as “too close to Ukraine” – NBC reports
- Ukrainian General Staff denies Russian claims of troop encirclement in Kursk Oblast
- Ukraine must maintain 500,000 strong army and missile programs as security guarantees, says former Ukrainian deputy
