European security and defense policy and its implications for Turkey

The “European Security and Defense Policy” is an evolving process. Since the Maastricht Treaty (1991), the European Union members have been trying to constitute a common security and defense policy within the framework of Common Foreign and Security Policy, second pillar of the European Union. The efforts to create “separable but not separate” European forces within NATO have increased speed in the last years and changed direction toward creating an independent ESDP with an autonomous military capability. To some extent, this new transformation concerns some non-EU European NATO members, such as Turkey, as well as non-European NATO allies, such as the US. The French-British St. Malo Declaration (1998), a turning point, has deeply changed the discussions about the European security. The impact of the latest developments on Turkey’s position in the European security system and on Turkey’s security policies is significant. Turkey wants to have some institutional links to European Security and Defense Policy in order to take part in the decisions on the matters that could affect Turkey’s vital national security interests. Turkey always points out that the European security cannot be accomplished properly without Turkey’s contributions. In this regard, it should be kept in mind that Turkey is one of the major actors which may have direct or indirect influence over European security matters since its membership in NATO; geographical location; its historical ties in the Balkans, in the Middle East and in the Caucasus; and its strategic relationship with the United States.