“In this neighbourhood, NATO recognizes that you face a number of difficult security challenges. Among all NATO Allies, Turkey is the most exposed to instability and turmoil stemming from the Middle East. Your country has suffered a series of brutal terrorist attacks. I want you to know that NATO stands in solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said in an address at Turkey’s National Defence University.
Gottemoeller’s visit comes after Turkish leaders slammed the alliance for not taking action in support of Turkey facing “border aggression.”
“Hey NATO! You are duty-bound to take a stand with your partners in the event of any border aggression,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after reports emerged that the United States was planning to create a 30,000-strong border force with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to secure Rojava borders.
The United States subsequently walked back from the reports they were forming a new force, stating they were just continuing their existing training of local forces.
Turkey’s Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also raised the issue at a NATO meeting in Brussels last week, telling the alliance his country will not allow more support to be given to the Kurdish forces, which Ankara claims have ties to the PKK.
Gottemoeller said that NATO faces many challenges and it must make decisions on how to address them “by consensus.”
She detailed NATO’s recent actions in support of Turkey, saying that they have reinforced Turkey’s air defences over the past five years, at Ankara’s request.
“Spain and Italy currently have missile batteries deployed near Turkey’s southern border,” Gottemoeller said, adding that the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States have also contributed to the mission in the past.
NATO has increased surveillance flights over Turkish territory and boosted its naval presence in the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean Sea, she added.
“The mission is important – and Allies are committed to it,” Gottemoeller stressed.
Turkey joined NATO 65 years ago, in 1952.
