Türkiye will host the headquarters of the Southeast Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) from 2026 to 2032. This development is viewed as a reflection of Türkiye’s foreign and security policy in the Balkans, which is based on regional ownership, inclusiveness and multilateralism.
Rıfat Öncel, a defense researcher at the SETA Foundation, says SEEBRIG’s importance is growing in the face of mounting security challenges. The multinational brigade is regarded as one of the instruments of security cooperation in Southeast Europe.
Türkiye’s policy in the Balkans
Türkiye pursues a policy aimed at preserving peace and stability in the Balkans because of the region’s Turkish population, historical ties and geopolitical position. Within this framework, it provides personnel and institutional support to international missions.
Türkiye is the largest contributor of personnel among non-EU countries to the European Union Force mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the EU took over from NATO. Türkiye has also made a substantial personnel contribution to the Kosovo Force and has assumed command of the mechanism twice.
In 2009–2010, Türkiye established trilateral consultation mechanisms with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, followed by one with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. In 2025, the Balkan Peace Platform was established under Türkiye’s leadership to promote sustained dialogue with six Balkan countries that are not members of the EU.
SEEBRIG’s structure and area of responsibility
Established in 1999, SEEBRIG was tasked with contributing to regional stability, military cooperation and the development of good-neighborly relations in southeastern Europe.
Türkiye, Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania and Greece make up the brigade’s member countries. The location of the headquarters and the brigade command rotate among these countries. The structure is positioned along a strategic corridor stretching from the Adriatic Sea through the Aegean and Mediterranean seas to the Black Sea.
SEEBRIG is not a NATO formation, but maintains close relations with the alliance. In 2006, the brigade served as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, contributing to efforts to ensure security and stability in Kabul and its surrounding areas and to coordinate humanitarian assistance for civilians.
All member countries must approve SEEBRIG’s deployment in similar operations or initiatives such as the Coalition of the Willing, and the countries must complete their domestic legal procedures. Türkiye supported the idea of a Coalition of the Willing, which was raised by the United Kingdom and France after the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the initiative is considered difficult to implement because of Russia’s strong opposition.
The Balkans and European security
Europe’s defense architecture is being reshaped after the Russia-Ukraine war, while the Balkans, together with Eastern Europe, the Baltics and Scandinavia, is viewed as one of the important wings of European security.
After February 2022, the European Union accelerated its enlargement policy toward countries in the region. During this process, accession negotiations were opened with Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Moldova; Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted candidate status; and Kosovo submitted an application for membership. Serbia, whose negotiations began in 2014, has made no progress in its accession process.
The Balkans lie along a west-east logistics corridor connecting Western Europe to Romania, one of NATO’s easternmost members. Romania also stands out as the country with the largest U.S. military presence in the Balkans and as the host of NATO’s Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system.
Moldova, which is neither a NATO nor an EU member, lies between Romania and Ukraine. The unilateral declaration of independence by Moldova’s Transnistria region has contributed to continuing tensions in relations between Moldova and Russia. Assessments that Russia could target Moldova after Ukraine or launch a military operation toward Odesa through Transnistria are being presented as analysis and intelligence views.
The Balkans are viewed as an area where local and regional problems intersect and are therefore considered among the regions where the war could spread. Assessments that attacks on civilian merchant vessels in the Black Sea have increased are also highlighting the importance of regional cooperation.
Defense cooperation with Türkiye
Türkiye is expected to deepen its relations with Balkan countries not only by expanding military cooperation but also through defense industry exports. Albania, Romania and North Macedonia, all SEEBRIG members, have in recent years ordered unmanned aerial vehicles, armored land vehicles, artillery systems and warships from Türkiye.
Bulgaria is participating in the MCM Black Sea initiative together with Romania and Türkiye. Although the European Union’s legal mechanisms are viewed as limiting defense industry cooperation with European countries from reaching its full potential, more than half of Türkiye’s defense exports go to European countries and NATO allies, and this trend is expected to continue.
At a time when the possibility of reducing the U.S. military presence in the region is under consideration, regional mechanisms such as SEEBRIG are expected to grow in importance.
