September was a whirlwind month of events, work missions, speaking engagements and the start of several exciting new projects. Yet one experience stood out as particularly meaningful: taking part in the Türkiye Europe Future Forum (TEFF 2025) as a Fellow.

From 7 to 14 September, I joined an inspiring group of young leaders from Germany, Türkiye, and across Europe at this year’s Forum, organised by Stiftung Mercator GmbH in cooperation with TÜSİAD under the theme:

„Charting a Rules-Based Future: Turkish–European Relations in a Fragmenting Global Order”.

Now in its 11th edition, TEFF has evolved into a pivotal platform for strategic dialogue, bringing together leaders from the realms of diplomacy, academia, civil society, and the private sector to reflect on how Europe and Türkiye can navigate an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.

During the event, I had the opportunity to lead a workshop on European defence and present the latest developments in European defence policy. This provided a valuable occasion to exchange perspectives on the evolving role of the EU as a security actor, and to explore how Turkish–European cooperation could enhance security in the Black Sea region.

Beyond the policy substance, what made TEFF exceptional was its community: curious, engaged and intellectually generous. It fostered a space where differing opinions stimulated insightful discussions and lengthy intellectual exchanges.

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