Turkey Set to Miss Deadline for Inclusion in EU’s SAFE Defense Mechanism

Turkey will not be joining the European Union’s new €150 billion defense loan facility, SAFE (Security Action for Europe), after failing to meet the November 30 deadline—despite strong support from several EU governments, including Germany.

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed in Brussels that Turkey and South Korea remain under assessment and cannot be processed in time. “These two countries will not meet the Sunday deadline, as the Commission is still examining their requests,” the spokesperson said.

Germany had lobbied openly for Turkey’s participation. During talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, German Foreign Minister Johannes Vandevoll reiterated that SAFE “should be opened to Turkey and the United Kingdom as important NATO partners.”

UK Talks Collapse Over Financial Terms

SAFE has faced additional setbacks following the breakdown of negotiations with the United Kingdom. London rejected what EU officials described as the financial “price” of full participation. Brussels had requested a contribution of up to €6.75 billion, while the UK offered €82 million—a figure unanimously deemed insufficient by member states.

Political Resistance to Turkey’s Bid

EU officials acknowledged early on that Turkey’s bid, submitted in July, would face veto threats from Greece and Cyprus, as well as resistance from France. The Commission therefore never forwarded Ankara’s application to the Council for approval.

Although Turkey and the UK will remain outside the mechanism, they may still join EU countries in bilateral defense projects. However, SAFE rules cap third-country involvement at 35% of any funded project, and deeper cooperation would require special arrangements that can no longer be negotiated.

Canada Still in Talks

Negotiations with Canada remain ongoing until Sunday, with the EU hoping to avoid another high-profile failure in its outreach to strategic partners.

Meanwhile, the 19 EU member states—including Greece—planning to participate in SAFE must submit their national programs by Sunday. The Commission is expected to complete assessments by mid-December, with initial disbursements of up to 15% anticipated before year’s end.