A spokesperson for the European Commission made significant statements regarding the European Security Action Fund (SAFE) during a press briefing with Turkish journalists in Brussels. The meeting was organized as part of a media program hosted by the EU Delegation to Türkiye. The spokesperson emphasized that the European Union is open to cooperation with Türkiye in the field of defense industry within the framework of the SAFE program.

According to the statement, Türkiye, as an EU candidate country, has the opportunity to participate in certain aspects of the SAFE program under specific conditions. The spokesperson highlighted that Türkiye’s defense industry has developed significant capabilities in recent years and acknowledged its strong position in the global defense market. This strength makes Türkiye a potential partner for certain defense production projects supported by the EU.

Under the SAFE mechanism, third countries may participate in defense production projects to a limited extent. The spokesperson noted that Turkish defense companies could contribute up to 35 percent of the components in SAFE-supported defense projects. In addition, Türkiye would be able to purchase defense products developed within the European defense ecosystem without major restrictions, which is considered an advantage stemming from its candidate country status.

However, full participation in the SAFE defense financing instrument would require a specific bilateral agreement between Türkiye and the European Union. The European Commission spokesperson explained that such an agreement has so far been signed only with Canada. Thanks to this arrangement, EU member states are able to use loans obtained from the European Commission to procure defense equipment from the Canadian defense industry without limitations. A similar agreement with Türkiye could significantly expand the presence of Turkish defense companies in European defense procurement programs.

The SAFE mechanism is part of the European Union’s broader “Defense 2030” strategy, which aims to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and evolving transatlantic security dynamics. EU officials stress that strengthening joint defense production and procurement will allow Europe to become more resilient and strategically autonomous while remaining complementary to NATO’s collective defense structure.

Launched on May 29, 2025, the SAFE program includes a defense financing capacity of up to €150 billion. Through this mechanism, EU member states, Ukraine, and European Economic Area countries such as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein can participate in joint defense procurements. Candidate countries and partner states that sign cooperation agreements with the EU can also join these projects under certain conditions. One of the key requirements is that at least 65 percent of the total value of defense components must originate from within Europe.