Gulf Insider
Turkey’s government as well as some members of the European Parliament on Wednesday criticized recent remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting Europe should not fall under the influence of Russia, Turkey, or China – calling the comments misleading and divisive. Von der Leyen on Monday had casually grouped NATO member Turkey with China and Russia as malign influences on the continent, which contradicts the fact that the EU has relied on Turkey to play a key diplomatic role in the Ukraine war, as well as to absorb war refugees from the Middle East. She had in the remarks declared that the EU “must succeed in completing the European continent so that it is not influenced by Russia, Turkey or China.” She then urged Europe to “think bigger and more geopolitically” when it comes to the continent getting away from cheap Russian energy and low-cast Chinese labor. She argued for greater European independence, also amid tensions with the Trump administration. Lawmakers from the Left Group in the European Parliament, including Belgian members Rudi Kennes and Marc Botenga, took Turkey’s side and slammed the remarks as “both inaccurate and very strange,” emphasizing that Turkey is a NATO ally and maintains multifaceted relations with the European Union. “Turkey is still […]
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