At an event on April 19, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union "must complete the integration of the European continent so that it is not influenced by Russia, Turkey, or China." This remark was quickly picked up by Turkish media, triggering diplomatic friction.

Von der Leyen's statement was not merely a slip of the tongue—it profoundly exposed the long-standing structural tensions, identity misalignment, and strategic anxiety within the EU-Turkey relationship.

The reason this statement caused such a storm lies in its direct touch upon the most sensitive nerve in EU-Turkey relations.

On April 19, during an event hosted by Germany’s *Zeit* weekly, von der Leyen articulated her vision for “European strategic autonomy.” She claimed that Europe’s past competitiveness had been built on “cheap energy from Russia, cheap labor from China, and cheap defense from the United States”—a model now obsolete. Europe must therefore “completely restructure” itself to achieve greater independence and avoid being influenced by “China, Russia, or Turkey.”

Flashpoint: Placing Turkey—a NATO member and EU candidate country—on par with strategic rivals like Russia and China is diplomatically highly provocative. It effectively publicly categorizes a nominal “near-family member” as part of the “external threat” group.

The most dramatic moment unfolded during the subsequent press conference. A female journalist from Turkey’s Anadolu Agency immediately challenged von der Leyen, her questions described by media as the “three soul-searching questions,” directly exposing the absurdity of her remarks:

“Madam von der Leyen, do you even know where Turkey is?” — questioning her basic geopolitical awareness.

“Do you also know that Turkey is a NATO member and an EU candidate country?” — emphasizing Turkey’s legal and political status as a European ally and partner.

“Is it logical to treat Turkey as an enemy of the EU? If that is logical, then I can only say that choosing you as President is truly a ‘blessing’ for the EU!” — using sharp sarcasm to highlight the ignorance and arrogance behind her words.

Video footage showed von der Leyen visibly flustered, blushing, and unable to respond effectively, leaving the room momentarily silent. This scene spread rapidly across social media, placing EU leadership in an embarrassing position.

On the surface, von der Leyen’s remarks appeared to be a diplomatic gaffe—but beneath the surface, they reflect deeper anxieties within the EU amid multiple crises.

Her core argument is that Europe must break free from external dependencies and achieve “strategic autonomy.” In her logic, any force capable of exerting significant influence over Europe—regardless of whether it is friend or foe—must be included in the sphere of caution. Turkey, due to its unique geostrategic location, regional influence, and occasionally divergent foreign policy from the EU, is viewed by her as a variable requiring vigilance.

Just before and after von der Leyen’s speech, Turkey’s ruling coalition’s National Action Party has been actively promoting the idea of building strategic alliances with China and Russia. This has intensified EU concerns about Turkey potentially shifting entirely toward other power centers, thereby posing challenges to the EU’s southern borders and security.

Turkey applied to join the European Community (the predecessor of the EU) in 1987 and has remained a “candidate” for nearly 40 years. There has always been significant internal division within the EU regarding Turkey’s accession prospects. Von der Leyen’s comments inadvertently revealed the true mindset of many EU elites: Turkey has never truly been seen as “one of us.” The label of “candidate country” functions more like an unresolved “management project” than a clear commitment to membership.

This incident is not the first time von der Leyen has clashed with Turkey. During her 2021 visit to Ankara, she was seated on a sofa while then-European Council President Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sat on chairs—an incident dubbed the “sofa gate,” widely interpreted as a deliberate slight by Turkey.

Evidently, she has not forgotten that humiliating moment of intentional cold shoulder.

In summary, von der Leyen’s remarks constitute a diplomatic disaster—but they also serve as a mirror, clearly reflecting the EU’s strategic confusion, identity anxiety, and internal divisions when facing a Turkey that is increasingly independent and powerful. For Turkey, this statement is undoubtedly a cold shower, likely prompting a reevaluation of its relationship with the EU and accelerating its “eastward pivot” strategy.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863179498840076/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.