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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the European Union's informal foreign ministers' meeting in Warsaw on May 8, marking a significant step in Türkiye's renewed dialogue with the bloc after years of strained relations.
The gathering, known as the Gymnich format meeting, will bring Fidan together with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and foreign ministers from EU member states, candidate countries, and potential candidate countries.
This meeting follows Fidan's participation in a similar event in Brussels on Aug. 29, 2024, which came after a five-year absence of Turkish representation at such gatherings. That invitation was widely interpreted as part of the EU's efforts to revitalize its relationship with Türkiye.
The Warsaw meeting represents an important opportunity to strengthen dialogue channels between Türkiye and the EU, including concrete steps regarding Türkiye's accession process.
Discussions at the meeting are expected to center on increasing resilience against hybrid threats and exchanging views on current challenges to European foreign and security policy.
Minister Fidan is anticipated to emphasize that strategic cooperation between NATO and the EU is essential for European security. He will likely stress that Türkiye and the EU should enhance coordination and cooperation against hybrid threats while improving information sharing.
The Turkish foreign minister is also expected to highlight that terrorism triggers hybrid threats and undermines international security, asserting that Türkiye's counterterrorism efforts help maintain stability in their shared geography. In this context, he will emphasize that Türkiye expects concrete and meaningful support from its allies and partners.
Fidan is expected to underscore that partners outside the EU, particularly Türkiye, with its strong defense industry infrastructure and military experience, should be included in EU initiatives aimed at developing Europe's defense industry capacity.
The meeting will also serve as a platform for Türkiye to express its expectation that the EU should take concrete steps to strengthen relations sustainably and predictably.
In this framework, Türkiye will emphasize priorities including the continuation of structural dialogue mechanisms, modernization of the Customs Union and trade relations to meet current needs, and visa-related issues.
Fidan is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.
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