Türkiye and Europe’s Joint Southern Venture

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Introduction

Europe and Türkiye have little in common these days, some might argue. Relations are at a historic low, the EU accession process is effectively suspended, and sustained cooperation is largely reduced to migration management.To say the relationship is in dire need of new impulses would be an understatement.

But the world around them is changing rapidly, and with it, new opportunities arise. Geopolitical events have shifted the EU–Türkiye relationship away from the EU accession agenda toward security cooperation in their immediate shared neighborhood. Yet both sides face compelling reasons to jointly seize opportunities with the so-called Global South in and beyond their shared neighborhood.

Much ink has been spilled over how power is diffusing from a unipolar, Western-led system toward a multipolar one in which middle powers play greater roles. As emerging powers assert significant agency, the Global South ceases to be seen primarily as a stage for great-power rivalry. In this environment, Türkiye and the EU have a window of opportunity to increase their global relevance by cooperating pragmatically in pursuit of tangible shared interests in and with countries of the South.

Global geo-economic trends also invite such a move. Economic nationalism is on the rise, and the United States is moving away from liberal free-trade orthodoxy toward strategic industrial policy, using subsidies to secure critical sectors and reduce dependence on competitors. In a less unipolar world, leading economies of the Global South are emerging as significant voices in international politics and key players in economic competitiveness.

With growth rates more than double those of developed economies, these countries are expected to lead global economic growth in the upcoming decades. No longer accepting Western positions by default or letting themselves be squeezed between great-power blocs, these countries pursue their own interest and will play an important role in shaping the future.

Within this landscape, Türkiye tends toward multi-alignment diplomacy. Paradoxically, this strengthens, rather than weakens, the rationale for Europe (used in this article as shorthand for the EU and its member states) to cooperate with Türkiye. Ankara’s diversified foreign policy can provide access and influence in regions where the EU’s presence is limited or contested. Structured cooperation in the Global South would allow the EU to leverage these complementary networks and capabilities, expanding its reach in a competitive geopolitical environment. By combining the EU’s economic and regulatory power with Türkiye’s diplomatic agility and regional access, the two sides can forge a pragmatic partnership across the Global South to enhance influence, support stability, and advance shared strategic interests.

That said, significant opportunities for cooperation also face considerable constraints. A climate of deep mutual distrust is compounded by active disputes between Türkiye and some EU member states—notably Greece and Cyprus—whose veto power often curtails broader EU-Türkiye engagement. Moreover, Türkiye’s views often diverge from those of the EU mainstream (for example regarding the reform of global governance institutions). These dynamics require a pragmatic approach, centered on narrowly defined areas where cooperation can deliver tangible benefits for both sides. Even so, advancing in these domains of low-hanging fruit will not be straightforward.

The rise of the distinctive Global South identity, as well as changing perceptions of Southern emerging powers in Europe and Türkiye, provide a backdrop for understanding the present window of opportunity.