Despite the EU: Spain’s Security and Defence Cooperation with Turkey

This report examines Spain-Turkey relations within the broader debate on strengthening European security and defence cooperation. It explores their bilateral ties, engagement with the EU and NATO, and draws on open-source materials and interviews with 21 Spanish policy-makers, analysts, and institutional representatives. The findings indicate that Spain and Turkey have cultivated a stable and pragmatic partnership that has been largely unaffected by Turkey’s tensions with other Western allies. Defence cooperation has become a key pillar, with geographical distance acting as a facilitator rather than a barrier. Overall, Spain sees Turkey as an ally in balancing NATO’s strategic focus on order for the “Southern Flank” to receive due attention. Past episodes of solidarity in times of crisis have reinforced ties. Both countries are actively exploring greater collaboration at all levels – between governments, armed forces, and private companies. Despite Spain’s positive stance, it lacks the leverage to shape EU-Turkey cooperation in security and defence, prioritizing bilateral engagement instead. At best, Spain could play a role in fostering dialogue and confidence-building, thus buffering persistent tensions and keeping alternative avenues for cooperation open.