Erdogan says NATO should not be part of the war in Ukraine

The president will not approve any cooperation initiative between the Alliance and Israel until there is peace in the Palestinian territories

12 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that NATO should not be involved in the war in Ukraine, while stressing his support for the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and emphasising that diplomacy and negotiations “do not mean” that kyiv should capitulate.

“I stressed at the meeting that our country fully supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, I stressed that diplomacy should not be excluded and that negotiations do not mean surrender. I openly shared my view that NATO should never be allowed to become a party to the war in Ukraine,” Erdogan said during a press conference in Washington.

In this regard, he stressed that Turkey’s position will remain “balanced, calm and fair”, as it has done “from the first day” of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Turkish news agency Anatolia.

Regarding the election of former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO Secretary General, Erdogan expressed confidence that he “will take into account the interests of the Allies” and that he “will pursue an approach that gives priority to solidarity.”

CONFLICT IN GAZA

On the other hand, he has criticised the Alliance’s relationship with Israel, a country he accuses of committing “atrocities” in the occupied Palestinian territories, and has shown his refusal to approve new cooperation initiatives until peace is achieved in Palestine.

“It is not possible for the Israeli administration, which tramples on the core values ​​of our Alliance, to continue its partnership relationship with NATO. Turkey will not approve any cooperation initiative with Israel within NATO until a comprehensive and sustainable peace is established in the Palestinian territories,” he said.

In this regard, she accused Israel of ignoring both the precautionary measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it is being tried for alleged genocide, and the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

“We are facing an angry structure that does not recognize law, order, courage, or borders, including the law of war. In the current environment, when the world’s conscience has taken to the streets to stop attacks targeting Palestinian civilians, it is unacceptable to continue providing military support to Israel. I have sensitively stressed this issue in my speech at the session,” Erdogan added.