Erdoğan met with European Council President Costa and Commission President von der Leyen

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came together with European Union (EU) Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, carrying out a significant diplomatic traffic. The meeting holds great importance for putting the bilateral relations, which are frequently debated on the international agenda, on the table. Although the main agenda of these critical contacts has not been fully disclosed, the current situation between Türkiye and the European Union is expected to be evaluated. Such high-level meetings, where both sides seek opportunities to expand their areas of mutual interest, are also being followed in terms of regional stability. Gatherings of this kind can pave the way for cooperation steps to be taken on various issues such as migration, trade, and security.

The meeting in question went on record as part of the intensive diplomatic contacts held within the scope of the 36. NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. President Erdoğan's meeting with the top two figures of the EU on the occasion of this summit is a concrete indication of Türkiye's effort to strengthen its dialogue with its allies. Such multilateral meetings held under the NATO umbrella hold a critical position in terms of harmonizing defense and security policies. It is anticipated that the contacts continuing throughout the summit will also shape the future strategic steps of the alliance. Following the tensions experienced in the international arena, summits of this kind play a critical role in resolving potential disagreements among allies. Türkiye's influential position within NATO is also among the prominent elements during these meetings.

The fact that the meetings with EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were held in a 'working dinner' format ensured that the negotiations took place in a more intimate and detailed environment. Working dinners allow leaders to establish direct and clear communication, going beyond the sometimes strict rules of official tables. In such an environment, it is highly likely that trade relations between Türkiye and the EU, visa liberalization demands, and the customs union agreement that needs updating were discussed. Furthermore, it is evaluated that the economic and security-oriented crises the European continent is going through were among the main topics on the table. Thanks to this productive meeting, leaders might have received signals of concrete and comprehensive steps that could be taken in the future.

Following this critical contact, how Türkiye-EU relations will evolve in the future is closely wondered by international observers. The deadlock in the accession negotiations, which have been ongoing for long years, necessitates a 'progressive and comprehensive' diplomacy between the parties. Türkiye's strategic position continues to be an indispensable value for the European Union, especially in the areas of energy security, border management, and global logistics. Such high-level meetings to be held with von der Leyen and Costa are seen as an opportunity to revitalize the negotiations. It is essential for both sides to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy by turning current geopolitical tensions into an opportunity for regional peace. Any positive step to be taken in this regard has the potential to positively affect not only both parties but the entire European continent.

Looking from a general framework, this meeting held by President Erdoğan with EU leaders on the margins of the NATO Summit is interpreted as an extremely strategic move in terms of international relations. Such diplomatic steps demonstrate that dialogue channels must always be kept open during a period when global crises are deepening. Joint statements or press conferences to be made by the parties at the end of the summit will provide much clearer information about the details of the meeting and the agreements reached. Although the gathering of the leaders is not a solution in itself, it represents a critical milestone in the long journey to be taken to overcome the impasse. In the upcoming period, it will be monitored how the topics put on the table at this working dinner will be implemented by the relevant ministries and technical delegations. The international community will also test the fruits of this meeting with potential diplomatic developments to be experienced in the coming months.