For decades, the European Union has been proudly exercising its soft power, convinced that its economic and cultural influence could help neighbours align with its values.
Realpolitik has brought Europe down to earth, as the bloc is forced to confront tough choices – and contemplate some unsavory partners.
Look at Turkey. For years, EU leaders have been chastising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over his increasingly authoritarian rule and violations of democratic norms.
But there's sudden amnesia about that in Brussels as Europe scrambles to rearm, confront a belligerent Russia and contemplate how to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
To take one perfect example: Euractiv has learned that Turkey, as an EU candidate country, will qualify as a "like-minded" third country under the European Commission's proposed SAFE regulation, which sets out the criteria to distribute €150 billion in loans for defence investment to member states and third countries.
That, despite outrage from European capitals over Erdoğan's recent move to imprison his top political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the latest in a long line of potential challengers to Erdoğan's power who have found themselves locked up.
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