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Turkey Says US Withdrawal From European Security Architecture Could Be 'destructive'
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 18, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 18, 2026
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Turkey’s FM Hakan Fidan warned on April 18 that a partial U.S. withdrawal from the European security architecture—possibly via NATO—could be "destructive" if uncoordinated. He urged allies to use the July NATO summit in Ankara to recalibrate relations with Washington.
Turkey: Uncoordinated US Withdrawal from European Security Could Harm Europe
Turkey Warns of Risks from Potential US Withdrawal from European Security Architecture
By Tuvan Gumrukcu
Ongoing Discussions and Concerns
ANTALYA, Turkey, April 18 (Reuters) - Discussions are under way on how to manage or mitigate a possible U.S. withdrawal from the "European security architecture", Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.
He gave no details of the discussions, but said such a withdrawal by the United States could be "destructive" for Europe if carried out in an uncoordinated way.
Background: Tensions within NATO
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to pull his country out of NATO after European members of the Western military alliance refused to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz after the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Their decision compounded friction within the bloc, which had already increased since Trump said he wanted to acquire Greenland.
Statements from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
"We are very much discussing how to manage or mitigate the withdrawal of the U.S. from the European security architecture. Not totally, but partially. Even a partial withdrawal... would be very destructive for Europe if it's not done in a coordinated way," Fidan told a panel at a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.
Fidan, whose country is in NATO but not the European Union, said he had long voiced complaints about EU states in NATO "acting like a separate club". They were taking decisions on their own, even if it contradicted the alliance's position, he said.
"You want to be a separate EU organisation within NATO? Well America said 'I'm letting you go, cutting off your ties'," Fidan said.
Calls for Resetting Ties and Preparing for Change
Fidan called on allies this week to use a NATO summit in Ankara in July as an opportunity to reset ties with Trump and Washington, while preparing for a possible reduction of U.S. involvement.
Reactions from NATO and the United States
NATO Secretary General's Perspective
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said he understands Trump's frustrations with the alliance, but that a large majority of European nations has been helpful to Washington's war effort against Iran.
White House Considerations
A senior White House official told Reuters this month that Trump, as part of frustration with NATO, had also considered the option of removing some U.S. troops from Europe.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Key Takeaways
- •Even a partial U.S. pullback from European security without coordination would damage Europe, Turkish FM says (defensenews.com).
- •Turkey, not an EU member, warns EU defence efforts excluding Ankara may harm Europe’s resilience (defensenews.com).
- •Turkey proposes closer integration in Europe’s defence architecture amid shifting U.S. posture (defensenews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Turkey says US withdrawal from European security architecture could be 'destructive'
1What did Turkey warn about the US withdrawing from European security?
Turkey's Foreign Minister said a US withdrawal from the European security architecture could be 'destructive' if not done in a coordinated way.
2What has caused friction within NATO according to the article?
Friction increased as US President Trump threatened to pull out of NATO and after European NATO members refused to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
3How has Turkey described EU states' behavior in NATO?
Turkey's FM criticized EU states in NATO for acting like a separate club and making decisions that sometimes contradict the alliance's position.
4What opportunity did Fidan mention regarding the upcoming NATO summit?
Fidan called on allies to use the NATO summit in Ankara to reset ties with the US and prepare for possible reduced US involvement.
5Has the US considered troop reductions in Europe?
A senior White House official told Reuters that Trump had considered removing some US troops from Europe due to frustration with NATO.
