Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 09/2008

PolicyWatch #1376: Turkey Turns Cold to European Defense: Implications for Western Security

Erdal Tatli

June 2008

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

In June 2007, Turkey decided to turn its back on European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) after a long series of negotiations with the EU. Although the Cyprus issue has always complicated Turkey's involvement in ESDP, Turkey has been an important actor in Western security architecture for decades, and its withdrawal from the force has profound implications for the United States, Europe, and Western security institutions, including NATO.