Bloomberg: Erdogan’s behavior undermines NATO’s collective security

Turkish President threatens to block NATO enlargement with Finland, Sweden Recep Tayyip Erdogan rekindled doubts about Turkey’s credibility as a member of the alliance, reports in an article by Bloombergcalling on US and European leaders to make it clear that Ankara ‘s behavior undermines NATO’ s collective securityas well as that they are willing to impose consequences if it continues.

In the article, it is noted that The Turkish president claims that Finland and Sweden provide shelter to Kurdsincluding some belonging to terrorist groups, expressing his opposition to their membership in NATO.

According to the report, on Wednesday, at a meeting of NATO ambassadors, Turkey refused to sign the acceptance of the candidacies of Finland and Sweden. As the rules of the alliance require the approval of all new applications by unanimity, each of the 30 NATO members has the right to veto.

Bloomberg talks about opportunism on the part of Erdogan, as he had previously told his Finnish counterpart that he would welcome Helsinki’s application for NATO membership. According to the agency, Mr. Erdogan insists not only the Finns and the Swedes to fight Kurdish activism, but also other NATO member states to do the same. Most importantly, he wants other members to abandon restrictions on the supply of state-of-the-art military equipment to Turkey – restrictions that come as a result of his own decision to buy Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which could jeopardize military capabilities of the alliance, notes Bloomberg.

The post points out that she is not the first time Turkey has threatened to disrupt NATO security plans if its narrow interests are not served. Two years ago, it delayed a NATO defense plan for Poland and the Baltic states for several months, urging member states to take action against a Kurdish group considered important in the fight against Islamic State.

Mr Erdogan backed down then, and may well do so again on the issue of NATO enlargement, according to Bloomberg. However, as he adds, NATO can not afford to be left to Turkish President’s repeated aggression. A protracted approval process for Finland and Sweden could leave both countries vulnerable to Russian intimidation, as they will not be under NATO’s collective security umbrella until they join. And given Vladimir Putin’s increasingly unpredictable behavior, the alliance is certain to face increasingly frequent crises in which it must act swiftly and decisively, according to Bloomberg.

It reminds, no, that US President Joe Biden has asked Congress to approve the sale of weapons and equipment upgrades to US-built F-16 fighter jets in Turkey.. The Bloomberg notes that Mr Biden should announce that these transactions will be halted if Ankara tries to delay or derail the accession process for Finland and Sweden. Until Mr. Erdogan clarifies his intentions, Turkey’s involvement in NATO planning and exercises should be kept to a minimum and its president relegated to the second row – literally and figuratively – at alliance leaders’ rallies. , underlines Bloomberg.

He also emphasizes that, If mild reprimands do not change Mr Erdogan’s behavior, tougher punishments should be considered. NATO rules do not allow expulsion of a member, but Erdogan’s deliberate contempt for the collective good suggests a need to reconsider those rules, notes Bloomberg and adds that French President Emanuel Macron has proposed a revision of the rules of the European Union, which also do not allow the expulsion of members. Biden could send a similar message to NATO, the agency continues.

He also noted that while there may be a reaction from Mr. Erdogan, there is no room for a permanent rupture in Ankara’s relations with the West, given the state of the Turkish economy, as well as the 2023 elections in Turkey. Moreover, notes Bloomberg, Russia’s failures in war are a reminder that an alliance with the West, rather than Putin, is better for Turkey.