The Turkish foreign minister on Friday said a group comprising the UK, some European countries, and Türkiye could potentially establish its own sphere of influence in the region,
Anadolu reports.
Speaking to TV100, a Turkish television channel, Hakan Fidan stressed that European leaders are confused about what to do if the world were to be divided into several spheres of influence.
“It is quite possible for a structure that includes the UK, certain European countries, and Türkiye to create its own center of attraction in the region,” he said.
"This capability exists; the opportunity is there. It's simply a matter of putting forth the will and pursuing it," Fidan said.
He highlighted that if Türkiye had joined the EU in 2007-2008, the UK would likely not have exited the EU.
"A structure that includes Türkiye and the UK within the EU would inevitably have developed its own foreign policy and security architecture much earlier," he argued.
Fidan underscored that there are not many armies in Europe that are as strong as the Turkish army and whose tools have been tested on the battlefields.
Emphasizing that the threats should be defined, and the possibilities and how much the parties will protect each other should be seen, Fidan noted that the Ukraine issue will serve as a test for European countries, including Türkiye.
Stating that Türkiye's one-to-one relations with European countries are in good condition, Fidan said: “We have a total trade volume of more than 200 billion dollars with the whole of Europe. It is the most balanced trade volume in the world, for both sides.”
Stressing that repairing the relations with the EU institutions, which were cut to a certain extent in 2019, is challenging, Fidan said that EU membership is still a strategic priority, but the EU does not address the issue in the same way.
