Donald Trump’s pressure on Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defense triggered an important shift. What had long been a comfortable arrangement – Europe acting as a security satellite under the American umbrella – suddenly looks fragile. For the first time in decades, European leaders began openly discussing the need to stand on their own feet and perhaps even emerge as a renewed geopolitical pole in world politics. Yet amid all this talk of autonomy, one question still hangs in the air: what role should Turkey play in Europe’s post-American defense?

*Originally published in 2025 and preserved as part of our archive project.Get E-International Relations delivered directly to your inbox, free of charge. As you sign up, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work.

The debate in Western policy circles has been both lively and divided. Analysts tend to fall into two camps: some exaggerate Turkey’s role, imagining it as a substitute for the United States, while others disregard Ankara altogether. Neither perspective is particularly helpful. A more realistic answer requires looking at the issue from different angles, acknowledging both Turkey’s capabilities and its limitations. Some observers portray Turkey as a dynamic and strengthening military power, buoyed by a young population ready to fight. That assessment is not entirely wrong. Turkey has indeed a capable military force. But it is misleading to assume that Turkish soldiers will step in and fill the vacuum left behind by American troops. Turkey itself is encircled by conflicts in Syria, Iraq, the Caucasus, and beyond. It has no incentive to overextend itself on Europe’s behalf.

For Europe, the smarter course is to take greater responsibility for its own defense, either by increasing troop numbers or by compensating with technological advances. Israel offers an instructive example here: it is widely recognized as a formidable military actor without ever needing to deploy large numbers of soldiers on foreign soil. If Turkish boots are not the answer, what role could Ankara........

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