Trump and EU secur Erdoğan’s agreement to reopen Halki Theological School
Turkish leadership plans to use the restoration of the theological school's operations as a way to improve relations with the West.
In Turkey, a decision has been made to resume the activities of the theological school on the island of Halki, which had remained closed for the past five decades. This is reported by Protothema, citing Bloomberg.
Ankara took this step under pressure from Donald Trump and the leadership of the European Union, seeking to demonstrate a willingness to engage in dialogue on issues of religious freedom. The decision is driven by the desire of the Turkish leadership to open a new chapter in relations with the West and address longstanding grievances from the international community.
The institution will be granted university status; however, its operation will be subject to strict secular legislation. According to the agreements reached, students at Halki will be enrolled through Turkey's state selection system, and the country's Ministry of Education will have the right to exercise full control over all academic programs.
The school on Halki was the primary training ground for Phanar clergy since 1844, until it was closed in 1971 by a decision of the Constitutional Court. The head of the Phanar has spent decades seeking its reopening, using the support of the United States and the European Union as leverage over the Turkish authorities.
Previously, President Erdoğan had already acknowledged the possibility of positive changes; however, real progress only began after the direct intervention of the Trump administration. In church circles, the reopening of the school is described as a strategically important matter for the training of senior clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
International observers believe that Erdoğan's decision is an "indicator" of Turkey's readiness to uphold religious freedoms in exchange for political gains in the West.
As the UOJ previously reported, Patriarch Bartholomew dined with Erdoğan at a Muslim Iftar.
