ISTANBUL 

Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Friday that Türkiye and the UK must strengthen their cooperation across defense, technology, and academia, using their independent status outside the EU for faster global response.

Türkiye and the UK “are not in the EU, but we are in the security apparatus of Europe,” Wallace said during a speech at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, adding that this “means we are important to our European friends and allies, but it also means that we have an interest in the security of Europe.”

He emphasized that, not being part of the EU, the two countries have the freedom to “forge our own stronger trade arrangements” and act together on foreign policy objectives.

Highlighting Türkiye’s skilled workforce, he said the country has “a skill base and physicists and aeronautical engineers and systems engineers, as well as a “tremendously well-educated workforce that I think is incredibly important.”

Wallace added that the two countries should enhance collaboration not only in manufacturing but also in academia and science, while promoting greater mutual understanding beyond government levels.

-‘The world is more anxious than ever’

Wallace pointed to rising global instability, saying, “The world is anxious. It's more anxious than ever … We are now post-globalization. In other words, we are completely interconnected,” noting that the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza are now visible and felt globally, even in distant communities.

Wallace also noted that Britain’s second key interest is achieving peace in the Middle East, underlining the challenges in resolving the region’s long-standing conflicts.

He said that the worst-case scenario is that “the nation-state loses control of its own society,” and stressed the growing power of technology and its potential misuse by terrorists.

-Urgent need for increased investment in defense resilience

Wallace called on governments to prioritize increased investment in defense resilience, even if it means cutting spending elsewhere, to protect against evolving threats.

He emphasized that today’s conflicts extend beyond traditional warfare, with cyberattacks and hybrid threats posing significant risks to national security.

He stressed that adversaries include not only hostile states but also extremist and anarchist groups, making resilience across all sectors crucial.

Wallace cautioned that overreliance on allies, particularly the US, could leave nations dangerously vulnerable in a rapidly changing security environment.

- Ukraine war most urgent issue for the UK

Wallace emphasized that, from Britain’s perspective, the most urgent issue is the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and added: “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin must not be allowed to go home and think he’s won.”

He stressed the importance of international resolve and unity among allies, warning that wavering commitments would embolden adversaries and make the world more dangerous.

Wallace also noted that Britain’s interest is peace in the Middle East, acknowledging the challenges involved in resolving long-standing conflicts in the region.

Stressing that while tensions exist in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said cooperation on energy extraction is essential, as joint collaboration can drive economic growth and reduce conflict in the region.