Turkey’s main opposition party claims its Western allies are not responding adequately to an expanding crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government that targets its leaders and elected mayors.
This week’s arrests came after a court ruling removed CHP leader Özgür Özel and reinstated former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, an unprecedented decision condemned by Turkish and international human rights organizations.
The European Union’s reaction has been notably restrained.
“We have seen some visits and received a few letters,” said İlhan Uzgel, former deputy chair of the CHP. “Although there are public statements about Turkey, the tone remains mild and no concrete action has followed.”
For over a year, the CHP has endured arrests of its mayors on corruption allegations. This week, two additional mayors were detained, joining the already imprisoned Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Strategic partner
Uzgel argued that the European Union can no longer remain passive and must adopt a firmer stance.
“Erdogan needs to be told that he is destroying democracy and acting contrary to the rule of law,” Uzgel said.
“There could be diplomatic isolation,” he added. “Whenever Erdogan meets a foreign leader, he presents it to his Turkish audience as proof of his global stature; removing that opportunity could weaken his narrative.”
Nevertheless, Erdogan is expected to bolster his international standing at next month’s NATO summit in Ankara.
“Turkey’s two major allies have chosen not to raise human rights concerns in their bilateral relations,” said Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. She observed that the EU and the United States have found uncommon common ground regarding Turkey.
“For President Trump, this stance comes naturally; he shows little interest in advancing human rights worldwide,” she said. “Now Europeans, too, are seeking a functional partnership with Turkey and prefer to overlook human rights as an obstacle to bilateral ties.”
Federico Donelli, an international relations expert at the University of Trieste, said the EU’s restrained response mirrors Turkey’s increasing strategic significance.
“The EU’s muted reaction is closely tied to growing acknowledgment of Turkey’s structural importance for European security.”
With NATO’s second‑largest army and a rapidly expanding defense industry, Turkey is increasingly viewed as a key security partner for Europe, which confronts Russian threats and doubts about the United States’ long‑term commitment.
“The United States is undoubtedly less stable than before, so Turkey is now regarded less as an EU candidate and more as a strategic partner,” Donelli said.
Pressure on Greece and Cyprus
Donelli warned that this shift could intensify pressure on Greece and Cyprus, which have long employed their vetoes to delay deeper EU defense cooperation with Turkey due to Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean disputes.
“We are aware of how strongly these two countries have shaped EU‑Turkey relations for years,” Donelli said.
“These two nations will be unable to limit the EU’s broader strategic decisions over the coming years or decade,” he added.
Amid the Russian threat and uncertainty over America’s resolve, Turkey’s opposition fears it is being sacrificed for the sake of European security.
“Historically, EU‑Turkey relations promoted Turkey’s democratization, but the dynamic has reversed; EU ties now undermine Turkey’s democratic progress,” Uzgel said. “The closer Erdogan draws to the EU, the more democracy erodes in Turkey.”
He nevertheless warned that Europe’s approach is short‑sighted and could have broader repercussions.
“With a population of 86 million, a democratic collapse in Turkey would inevitably affect other nations as well.”