Hakan Fidan Rebukes ‘Unfortunate’ Remarks by EU President Ursula von der Leyen Following Geopolitical Comparison

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calls EU President Ursula von der Leyen's comparison of Türkiye to Russia "unfortunate" and confirms diplomatic correction.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 5:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

The Geopolitical Slight in Hamburg

The diplomatic friction between Ankara and Brussels was reignited this week following a speech delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Hamburg. Addressing an event marking the 80th anniversary of the German newspaper Die Zeit, von der Leyen framed the future of EU enlargement as a strategic necessity to secure the continent. She stated that the European Union must successfully "complete the European continent" to ensure it remains free from the influence of Russia, Türkiye, and China. The remark drew immediate scrutiny for placing a NATO ally and EU candidate in the same category as the bloc’s primary strategic rivals.

Fidan’s Diplomatic Response from Oxford

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the controversy during an official visit to the United Kingdom, where he delivered a lecture on global reordering at Oxford University. Fidan characterized the President’s phrasing as "unfortunate," noting that such rhetoric fails to reflect the complexity of the Türkiye-EU relationship. However, Fidan adopted a de-escalatory tone, informing journalists that the "necessary communications" had already taken place between Ankara and Brussels to address the grievance. He indicated that the Turkish government considers the matter "fixed" and "corrected" through these private diplomatic exchanges.

Structural Contradictions in EU-Türkiye Relations

The incident highlights a persistent structural tension within the European Union regarding Türkiye’s status. While Türkiye remains an official candidate for EU membership, the accession process has been effectively frozen for years. Von der Leyen’s comments reflect an emerging "geopolitical commission" mindset that views regional autonomy—such as Türkiye’s independent foreign policy—as a challenge to EU integration. Critics within the European Parliament have joined Ankara in questioning the wisdom of equating a security partner and customs union member with adversarial powers like Russia, particularly during a period of heightened conflict in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.