US envoy warns of “strategic contradiction” in NATO’s approach to Türkiye

The US ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, speaking at the Milken Institute, criticized NATO and European countries for what he characterized as a sustained failure to fully recognize Türkiye’s strategic significance.

Barrack said that while Türkiye’s role within the alliance is frequently highlighted in rhetoric, Ankara is not afforded corresponding strategic respect in practice, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

He emphasized that Türkiye is NATO’s second-largest military power, yet Europe has been reluctant to supply it with the most advanced and modern weaponry. This disparity, he argued, amounts to a “strategic contradiction”: Türkiye is formally expected to defend Europe while being denied access to cutting-edge military technologies due to concerns linked to Russia.

“You say they are part of NATO, you want them to defend Europe, but Europe does not want Türkiye to have the highest and best weaponry because they are afraid of what is happening in Russia. This is madness,” the ambassador said.

By  Vafa Guliyeva