Turkish President Criticizes NATO Allies Over Counterterrorism Support
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sharply criticized Türkiye’s NATO allies for their inadequate support of the country’s counterterrorism efforts against the PKK terrorist organization.
In a statement following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Erdogan expressed his frustration: “You can see that the weapons reluctantly given to our country by our allies are found in the (PKK) separatist terrorist organization’s shelters.”
Erdogan’s remarks echoed his address at the NATO leaders’ summit last week, which marked the alliance’s 75th anniversary. During the summit, he condemned the relationships some NATO members have fostered with the PKK.
“We cannot accept the distorted relationship that some of our allies have established with the PYD-YPG, the Syrian extension of the PKK terrorist organization,” Erdogan said on X on Friday, urging a shift away from policies harming NATO’s unity and integrity.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU, has waged a nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in over 40,000 deaths, including women, children, and infants. Erdogan stressed that Türkiye “cannot be squeezed into a single bloc due to its geographical, human, economic, and historical ties.”
“We cannot let others restrict us to their limited frameworks. We do not turn our back to the East in favor of the West, nor do we disregard the West in favor of the East,” he added.
The Turkish president also called for peaceful resolutions to conflicts through negotiation and mutual dialogues, stating it is “beneficial to open the clenched fists.”
Addressing Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, now in its 284th day, Erdogan was unequivocal: “As long as Israel’s policy of massacre, occupation, and genocide in Gaza and other Palestinian territories continues, we will not change our position on this country.”
Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s unwavering support for Palestine, condemning Israel and its allies, saying they “feed on blood, tears, and occupation.”
