NATO chief Mark Rutte urges EU to admit Türkiye into the €150 billion SAFE defence programme, citing NATO benefits despite strict non-member funding limits.
According to Ekathimerini, NATO chief Mark Rutte has voiced support for Türkiye’s participation in the EU’s €150bn SAFE defence programme, urging member-states to recognise Ankara’s military value despite complex accession rules.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed support for Türkiye’s involvement in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme during a meeting with EU ambassadors, according to diplomatic sources cited by Ekathimerini. The session, his first with the EU’s permanent representatives, followed Ankara’s formal application to join the EU’s €150 billion scheme designed to boost collective defence procurement.
Rutte argued that greater EU–Türkiye engagement would strengthen NATO cooperation and ease Ankara’s objections to sharing sensitive NATO–EU data. He urged EU capitals to acknowledge Türkiye’s defence capabilities and extend a goodwill gesture.
The NATO chief, who previously clashed with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his premiership, has defended Türkiye’s role since taking office in October. In May, he opposed Berlin’s restrictions on Eurofighter sales to Ankara, insisting there should be “no restrictions on arms sales between allies.”
SAFE rules, however, complicate Türkiye’s bid. Only EU member-states can directly access SAFE loans. Non-EU nations can join procurement initiatives as suppliers or partners, but there are strict regulations that must be followed. At least 65% of the parts for a project must come from the EU, EEA-EFTA nations, or Ukraine. No more than 35% can come from outside sources. For systems that are sensitive, further guarantees are needed, including not having any export limitations from other parties.
Türkiye has submitted its expression of interest, but its participation would be limited to project partnerships rather than direct funding. This model mirrors the UK’s involvement via defence partnership agreements.
Rutte’s call comes as Türkiye has stepped up engagement with Western defence initiatives, attending meetings on post-war Ukraine and signalling openness to future peacekeeping deployments — a stance backed by French President Emmanuel Macron.
