The Turkish Perspective on the European Pillar in NATO after the Ankara Summit

Spurred by the NATO summit in Ankara this month and US President Trump’s revision of 80 years of transatlantic security policy, the debate about the future of NATO – and with it, the discussion about strengthening the ‘European pillar in NATO’ – has returned with renewed urgency. While there is broad consensus among Europeans that they need to strengthen the so-called ‘European pillar’, the concept still lacks clarity. Moreover, the role of Turkey, the alliance’s second-largest military after the United States, has so far remained largely at the margins of the discussion. 

The Heinrich Böll Foundation has recently commissioned a study by Dr Leonard Schütte, in which the author traces the evolution of the concept of the European pillar, delineates potential meaning, and spells out what it would take to operationalise it. 

Strengthening the European pillar within NATO does not call into question the viability of the alliance itself. However, it could entail significant changes to the role of Turkey and other non-EU allies in the alliance. These implications need to be spelled out and discussed early in the process. Against this backdrop, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the German Marshall Fund warmly invite you to join a discussion on the Turkish perspective on a stronger European pillar within NATO.

Together, we will reflect on the outcomes of the summit, examine the concept of the European pillar in NATO as outlined by Dr Leonard Schütte's study, and discuss how this may reshape intra-alliance hierarchy, decision-making, and burden-sharing – in particular with a view to the role of Turkey.

For the discussion, we are pleased to welcome:

• Dr Leonard Schütte (Belfer Center, Harvard University)
• tbc
• tbc

Please register here for the discussion.

Contact: Georg McCutcheon, EU Polic
E mccutcheon@boell.de