The Turkish foreign ministry issued a written statement on Tuesday in response to the ‘Strategic Compass‘ approved by the EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Council of Ministers on Monday.
The document, drafted by Josep Borell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and presented to EU foreign affairs and defence ministers in mid-November 2021, aims to define the challenges and threats faced by the EU, to explore means to manage them effectively, and to determine the paths to ‘project Europe’s influence as both a regional and global actor.’
Although the draft was prepared with a broad vision encompassing shifts over the entire globe, the recently approved document starts by referring to Russia in particular, and to ‘the return of war in Europe.’
The document tiptoes around mentioning Turkey, in the section titled, ‘Our strategic environment.’ Without directly accusing or naming any country, it says:
“Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean remain, due to provocations and unilateral actions against EU Member States and violations of sovereign rights in breach of international law, as well as the instrumentalisation of irregular migration, and have the potential to escalate quickly.”
It then continues with a brief mention of Turkey at the end of the paragraph:
“Ensuring a stable and secure environment as well as a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship, in line with the principle of good-neighbourly relations, is in the interest of both the EU and Turkey.”
In response, Turkey’s foreign ministry released a statement saying:
“It has been observed that the document, especially the section on the Eastern Mediterranean which refers to Turkey, and which was imposed upon the EU by two member countries who reject the maritime rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots and make maximalist claims on sovereignty rights at sea, is in contradiction with international laws and even the EU’s own legislation, and is detached from reality. It is difficult to consider this document as a ‘strategic’ one as it fails to show the right direction and cannot be qualifed as a ‘compass.’ It is obvious that this document, rather than making the EU a part of the solutions in the Eastern Mediterranean, will make it part of the problems, and will not provide the right strategies.”
It added:
“Considering the developments of recent days, the document displays a lack of vision and it is unfortunate for the EU that the document disregards the facts and holds such a shallow opinion of a NATO ally and an EU membership candidate.”
