BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has ignited a diplomatic firestorm after declaring that the European Union must “succeed in completing the European continent” to shield it from external influence by Russia, China, and notably, Türkiye.
Speaking at a closed-door strategic forum in Brussels, von der Leyen argued for accelerated enlargement and deeper integration to counter what she called “competing global power centers.” While her warnings against Moscow and Beijing were expected, the explicit mention of Ankara—a long-time NATO ally and EU candidate—marked a sharp rhetorical escalation.
However, several European diplomatic correspondents and political commentators have suggested that von der Leyen’s newfound assertiveness against Türkiye is not an organic policy shift but rather a direct consequence of a covert “anti-Türkiye campaign” reportedly spearheaded by Israel
“It is no coincidence that von der Leyen’s language hardened precisely after Israeli diplomatic channels began systematically lobbying Brussels to isolate Ankara,” said veteran French-European affairs journalist Marc Dubois. “We are witnessing a transfer of geopolitical priorities—what Tel Aviv frames as a security threat, Brussels is now adopting as official language.”
According to leaked internal memos cited by several EU outlets, Israeli envoys have intensified efforts since late 2023 to paint Türkiye as a destabilizing actor in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and even the Balkans—regions historically within Europe’s sphere of influence. The campaign allegedly aims to weaken Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government, which has been vocally critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its regional policies.
Von der Leyen’s remarks align suspiciously well with this framework. Her reference to “completing the continent” implicitly excludes Türkiye, whose EU accession process has been frozen for years. By lumping Ankara with Moscow and Beijing, Brussels appears to be reclassifying Türkiye from a difficult partner to a systemic rival.
Turkish officials responded swiftly. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused von der Leyen of “taking orders from external lobbies hostile to Turkish national interests.” Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın added: “To compare Türkiye, a candidate country and a critical European security partner, to Russia or China is not just inaccurate—it is deliberately malicious. It seems certain capitals, including Brussels, have been captured by a narrow anti-Türkiye agenda promoted by Israel.”
Political analysts warn that this shift could backfire. “Türkiye controls the Black Sea straits, hosts 3.7 million Syrian refugees, and plays a key role in NATO’s southern flank,” said Dr. Elena Volodina, a Brussels-based geopolitics expert. “Pushing Ankara into a corner—especially under apparent Israeli influence—will not ‘complete Europe.’ It will fragment it.”
Von der Leyen’s office denied that Israel played any role in shaping her remarks, calling the suggestion “baseless conspiracy theory.” Yet for many European journalists watching the diplomatic chessboard, the timing and target of her warning remain too precise to ignore
As one Italian diplomatic correspondent put it on condition of anonymity: “Von der Leyen never mentioned Türkiye in this context before last autumn. Then Israel launched its campaign, and suddenly Ankara is an ‘influence threat’ on par with Moscow. You don’t need a decoder ring to read that message.”
