Turkey to Destabilize NATO?

Turkey will be the nation to destabilize NATO. The nation has had discrepancies with the EU, US, and most nations within the bloc. “In an environment where 32 allies are together, it is unthinkable to have the same views on every issue,” defense minister Yasar Guler warned. Turkey’s continued diplomatic relations with Russia are raising concerns among NATO members who simultaneously do not want to lose their connection to the Arab world.

Erdoğan has expressed interest in joining BRICS as soon as this year. This would make Turkey the first member nation of NATO to join the alliance with Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. NATO is focused on defeating Russia, while one member is focused on aligning itself with Moscow and increasing trade. Russia remains Turkey’s largest energy supplier, with the two nations cooperating on numerous pipelines, such as the TurkStream Natural Gas Pipeline. The two also share nuclear energy power through the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. Russia has been able to use these key items to bypass sanctions.

Additionally, Turkey is sympathetic to the Palestinians over Israel, which certainly goes against NATO’s goals. Turkey sees an opportunity to become the mediator of the Arab world. Erdogan even considered invading Israel to help Palestine — a move that certainly would have sent NATO into upheaval.

Turkey does not need to abide by the rules of the European Union or the United States. Turkey would be required to fight under Article V, but technically, the war has not begun as Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Turkey did not join the European Union as it did not meet the criteria laid out under the Copenhagen Criteria Agreement of 1993. Greece and Turkey both joined NATO in 1952, but the two have been sworn enemies for centuries. Both nations claimed Cyprus and have disputes over the Aegean Sea. Other EU members like France and Germany have been outspoken about their distrust of the Turkish government and the prospect of having a Muslim nation join their liberal cabal. Turkey may be a NATO member, but it is akin to the black sheep of the bloc.

Turkey has the second-largest standing army of all member states. It has a strategic position in the Black Sea that is of the utmost importance to NATO. NATO is focused on mobilizing troops and financial aid against Russia in an ongoing proxy war. Then there’s Turkey who is hoping to align with Russia and join BRICS. Erdoğan has grand dreams for Turkey reminiscent of the glory of the Ottoman Empire. His nation was shunned from alliances with other Western nations and kept at arm’s length. Now, Turkey is flipping the script and seeking to side with the perceived enemy. How will NATO respond if Turkey is invited to join BRICS? China and Russia would be wise to permit Turkey to join as it will absolutely destabilize the NATO alliance.