European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara ahead of next week’s NATO summit, holding talks focused on strengthening EU-Turkey relations, regional security and the war in Ukraine.
According to reports, Kallas described Turkey as “a key partner in security, migration and energy, as well as a candidate country for EU membership,” underlining Ankara’s strategic importance for the European Union at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Following the meeting, Kallas said discussions centered on Russia’s war against Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and preparations for the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7-8. She also praised Turkey’s contribution to protecting NATO’s eastern flank.
Kallas was accompanied by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also attended the meeting.
The high-level talks come as Turkey intensifies security measures ahead of the NATO summit, which will bring together leaders from across the alliance amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
However, the meeting has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. Amnesty International criticized EU officials for engaging with Turkish authorities at a time when protests have been banned in Ankara and restrictions on media freedom have increased.
“Economic partnerships in which human rights are sacrificed cannot address the geopolitical challenges of our time,” Amnesty Turkey said in a statement posted on social media.
The meeting underscores the complex relationship between the European Union and Turkey, where strategic cooperation on security, migration and regional stability continues despite persistent disagreements over democratic standards and human rights.