Poland sees Türkiye as key defense partner, reaffirms support for EU accession

Polish politicians, academics and policy experts reiterated their strong support for Türkiye’s European Union accession and emphasized its critical role in regional and continental security, particularly amid ongoing instability in Ukraine.

At a series of briefings held under the auspices of the EU Delegation to Türkiye and the Turkish Embassy in Warsaw, Polish representatives discussed Ankara’s strategic significance for EU security, NATO defense architecture, and its bilateral relationship with Poland.

Poland committed to Türkiye’s EU process: Deputy FM

Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Anna Radwan stated that Warsaw closely monitors Türkiye’s EU accession process and supports it actively.

“The EU never applies religious criteria when seeking partners. Economic, political, and value-based criteria are considered. Poland is doing its part, but as they say, it takes two to tango,” Radwan told reporters.

She stressed that Poland’s current EU Council Presidency prioritizes security, with its main slogan being “Security, Europe!” and noted Türkiye’s importance in this context.

Radwan also highlighted Türkiye’s strong tourism appeal for Poles, with 1.8 million citizens visiting the country annually. She cited Türkiye’s rich archaeological heritage and world-renowned cuisine as key factors in its attractiveness.

Türkiye a ‘key country’ for EU and Ukraine security

Janusz Reiter, founder of the Center for International Relations, described Türkiye as essential to the continent’s broader defense ecosystem. “In terms of defense, security is always our priority. In this regard, Türkiye is a key country for both the EU and Ukraine,” Reiter said.

Reiter noted that Poland, which had enjoyed decades of stability, now faces renewed uncertainty due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He stressed the need for mutual defense arrangements and reaffirmed that Poland cannot rely solely on its own capabilities.

Academic experts call for stronger NATO-Europe defense link

Kamil Zajaczkowski, director of the Center for Europe at the University of Warsaw, underlined the need for building a European defense policy within NATO, adding, “In this framework, Türkiye becomes increasingly important. All NATO members will have to invest more to develop their defense capabilities.”

Fellow academic Dr. Danuta Chmielowska reflected on Ankara’s longstanding path toward EU membership, stating, “We’ve supported Türkiye since our own accession. If Türkiye joins the EU, we’ll be happy. Türkiye and other countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus are crucial to the EU’s future.”

Chmielowska emphasized the importance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policies in regional dynamics and Türkiye’s critical role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Polish analysts praise Türkiye’s military capabilities

Artur Kacprzyk, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, pointed to Türkiye’s large military capacity, saying, “Türkiye is NATO’s second-largest army and holds strategic control over access to the Black Sea, making it critical for regional security.”

Aleksandra Maria Spancerska, a Türkiye analyst at the same institute, noted that Türkiye enjoys a favorable image among Poles. “The public views Türkiye as a militarily strong country, particularly due to Bayraktar drones. In fact, there were even songs written about Bayraktar drones in Ukraine,” she said.

Polish officials also emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s attendance at the upcoming informal EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Gymnich) to be held in Poland on May 7-8.