Kallas to meet Erdoğan ahead of pivotal NATO summit

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is set to travel to Ankara on Tuesday for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to two EU officials familiar with her plans. She will be accompanied by Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner — a high-level trio seeking to strengthen ties with Ankara at a time when the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are reshaping Europe's security priorities. The talks are expected to focus on preparations for the July 7–8 NATO summit and regional security, the officials said. “Türkiye is an essential partner on defence, migration, trade and regional stability,” a member of Kallas’ team told POLITICO. “Tuesday’s talks are likely to cover the way forward on Iran, Syria, Gaza, and Russia’s war against Ukraine — all issues where Türkiye’s voice carries heavily.” Beyond security, Brussels aims to advance plans to lower trade barriers and develop the so-called “middle corridor,” a trade route linking Asia and Europe bypassing Russia. The outreach comes despite politically fraught relations. Turkey’s EU accession bid has stalled for years, while Erdoğan faces criticism over democratic backsliding and the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. European lawmakers have urged the Commission delegation to raise rule-of-law concerns during the visit. For now, however, security appears to take precedence. EU leaders hope next week’s NATO summit will help steady transatlantic relations after U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized European allies over their refusal to support recent U.S. military operations against Iran. “Closer EU-Turkey cooperation serves us all,” Kos told POLITICO ahead of the visit. “Together with Turkey, we want to move in the direction of more stability and more certainty in the wider region.”