Turkey Blocks Israel-NATO Military Drills Amid Gaza Conflict
Turkey is blocking Israel’s participation in NATO military drills until a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is established, citing humanitarian concerns. This decision has been communicated through official statements, reflecting Turkey’s firm stance in light of ongoing tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv following escalated violence in the region.
Turkey has announced that it will block any new military collaborations, including drills with Israel and NATO, until a permanent ceasefire is established in Gaza. According to Turkish official sources, this decision affects Israel’s participation in NATO’s upcoming exercise focused on resilience and emergency preparedness, set to take place in Bulgaria this September, as reported by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Two Israeli sources confirmed to Middle East Eye that Turkey has indeed obstructed their involvement in the exercise. An Israeli speculation links this blockage to comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the protection of Druze and Kurdish communities in Syria. Such remarks, along with Israel’s military influence in Syria, have reportedly provoked anger from Ankara, which suspects Netanyahu intends to fragment Syrian territory.
Refuting the speculation about Syria’s influence on this decision, a Turkish official clarified that Turkey has been obstructing Israel’s new engagements with NATO for over a year. They emphasized that Turkey retains veto power within NATO, which operates under a mechanism of unanimous decisions. The official stated, “Until a permanent ceasefire is achieved in Gaza and the obstacles to humanitarian aid are removed, we do not allow new or additional decisions to be made or new activities to be organised in NATO regarding Israel.”
Previously, Turkey had denied Israel observer status at NATO, a blockage that was lifted during a period of reconciliation in 2023. However, relations between Turkey and Israel have soured since a September 2023 meeting between President Erdogan and Prime Minister Netanyahu, meant to indicate a thaw in relations.
The situation escalated following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and the resulting conflict in Gaza, which resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian casualties. In response, Turkey has ramped up its criticisms of the Israeli government, implementing legal actions and trade sanctions, especially after Erdogan’s party faced local electoral losses partly due to public sentiment surrounding the Gaza war. The ongoing Turkish trade with Israel facilitated through third parties has ignited public pressure from the opposition on Erdogan, who has been accused of inadequately addressing the issue. Additionally, Turkey has joined efforts to hold Israel accountable at the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide in Gaza.
In summary, Turkey is maintaining a firm stance against new military engagements with Israel in NATO until a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. This decision stems from Turkey’s long-standing discontent with Israel’s military actions and perceived political maneuvers. The deteriorating relationship underscores ongoing tensions and Turkey’s efforts to assert its influence in the region, particularly following recent conflicts and domestic political challenges for President Erdogan.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
