The Brief – Eurofighters leave Europe's soft power in tatters

Euractiv

4 days ago

'Among ourselves, we keep the law, but when we are operating in the jungle, we must also use the laws of the jungle.'
Such was Robert Cooper's advice for the West – the close adviser to Tony Blair was quoted in Robert Kagan's 2003 book Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order.
But it's advice that Europeans have failed to heed. Instead, they left the Americans to deal with the jungle, while they continued on their European way – adhering to international law and promoting soft power.
Donald Trump's return marked a resurgence of power politics, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is now exploiting this shift, exposing Europe's weakness.
Since Turkey began EU accession negotiations in 2005, the masterminds of the Brussels bubble have been trying to convince us that taxpayers' money – just shy of €20 billion in the past two decades – could change the country. They hoped that by dangling the empty promise of EU membership, Turks would comply with international law and democratise internally.
Instead, the sultan made himself indispensable by doubling down on power politics. Turkey has ploughed money into defence, putting an estimated $40–50 billion into the sector over the past two decades.
He has imprisoned opponents, while the rule of law in Ankara has become little more than a midsummer night's dream. He blatantly disregards international norms, threatens Greece with war, and occupies Cypriot territory.
He has entirely ignored EU calls to sanction Russia, while Brussels meekly swallowed Erdoğan's declaration that Hamas is a liberation group.
Erdoğan has also enlisted his new Libyan ally, Khalifa Haftar, to apply migration pressure on the EU, advancing Turkish energy interests in the region by redrawing maritime boundaries – openly challenging EU sovereignty.
The result? Europeans have accepted Turkey as part of their new defence architecture, and now Germany has approved the delivery of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Ankara.
Naturally, Europe refuses to acknowledge its failure and continues to gaslight. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner claims that Russia is weaponising migrants arriving in Europe from Libya, completely ignoring Turkey's role in the region.
Brunner is either blinded by Brussels' Russiamania or is desperately searching for a convenient scapegoat to divert attention from Europe's failure with Turkey.
When the Ottoman Empire blocked Europe from Asian markets, Europeans turned to new frontiers with Columbus. Today, they have nowhere to turn – except to bow to the Sultan.
Roundup
The EU's second-highest court ruled Wednesday that the Commission broke its own staff appointment rules when von der Leyen delegated cabinet interviews to her right-hand man, Björn Seibert. The decision comes amid scrutiny over von der Leyen's management style.
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Cutting (green) red tape – The EU called for 'feedback on the simplification of future environmental legislation' on Tuesday, in an effort to ease the administrative burden on EU companies. The Commission suggests scrapping the substances of concern in products database.
Across Europe
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The Tusk Shuffle – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a cabinet reshuffle Tuesday following a presidential election defeat for his party, removing key ministers and consolidating key portfolios. But many Poles believe the move will do little to improve the government's image.