EU Confidential
Erdoğan, not Trump, is Europe's new best friend on security
Mar 28, 2025
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a Brookings Institution fellow and Turkish politics expert, discusses the political upheaval following the arrest of Istanbul's mayor and Europe's muted response to Erdoğan’s authoritarian shift. She analyzes Turkey's growing significance for European security amid democratic concerns. Meanwhile, sustainability reporter Marianne Gros highlights crucial EU policy changes targeting food and textile waste, agriculture challenges, and strategies for local medicine production, revealing a proactive approach to pressing environmental and health issues.
36:58
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Turkey's increasing authoritarianism, highlighted by the arrest of opposition leader İmamoğlu, challenges Europe's commitment to democratic values.
- The EU is revising agricultural and healthcare policies to enhance sustainability and address critical shortages, reflecting emerging priorities in governance.
Deep dives
Turkey's Democratic Challenges
The recent arrest of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, raises significant concerns about Turkey's commitment to democracy. Imamoglu, representing the main opposition party, gained popularity for his ability to unite diverse segments of Turkey's population against President Erdogan's administration. His initial election success in 2019, followed by a peaceful re-election due to the public's outrage over the nullification of the first results, highlights his role as a leading opposition figure. The subsequent crackdown on protests and political dissent emphasizes the growing authoritarian tendencies of Erdogan's government, prompting questions about the future of democratic processes in Turkey.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
