The Turkish Parliament's vote in favour of Sweden's acceptance as a NATO member last month created what we believe to be a false impression that Erdogan has made a new turn towards the West.
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Νέα ένταση στον ορίζοντα στην Κυπριακή ΑΟΖ καθώς η Τουρκία εξήγγειλε δραστηριότητες έρευνας και γεώτρησης υδρογονανθράκων
However, this fact in itself should not distract us from how outrageous the Turkish rhetoric and behaviour has been all along under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
It should also not be lost on us that the Turkish President bargained with the US to accept the Scandinavian country's entry into NATO, succeeding in getting the green light from Washington for the purchase of 40 F-16 BLOCK-70 F-16s he was seeking.
Turkey's extreme hostility towards Israel
Turkey's relationship with other NATO members, Israel, the US and the West in general, attempts to "illuminate" Turkey's relationship with other NATO members, Israel, the US and the West in general, in an article by a reputable international media outlet, noting:
"Erdogan accused Israel of carrying out 'the most heinous attacks in human history', identified Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Adolf Hitler, giving Netanyahu the epithet 'Gaza butcher', and accused Israel of being a 'terrorist state' committing genocide in Gaza.
On the other hand, Erdogan referred to Hamas as a "liberation group" and refused to categorize it as a terrorist organization.
Turkish behaviour towards Israel was no less reprehensible and sets it apart from the rest of NATO.
Ankara removed Israel as a favored export target to discourage Turkish companies from trading with Israel.
The Turks also helped South Africa in that country's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice by providing Pretoria with "evidence" of Israeli "genocide".
When an Israeli football player, Sagiv Jehezkel, expressed solidarity with the Israeli hostages, he was arrested by the Turkish authorities. Turkey's justice minister said Jehezkel was under investigation for "openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility" with "an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza."
How ridiculous. How embarrassing.
The Turkish stance against the US-UK-NATO
When the United States and Britain launched strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis, Erdogan sided with Iran and Russia, accusing the US and Britain of trying to "turn the Red Sea into a sea of blood."
Turkey's behaviour is uniquely pernicious because it is a member of NATO and, therefore, "nominally" a staunch ally of the United States and Western countries.
It is one thing for Iran or Russia to say and do outrageous things and another for a NATO member to do so.
However, under Erdogan and the AKP, Turkish policies are converging with those of Russia and Iran, and in the past have even benefited ISIS .
All this is directly contrary to NATO's objectives.
Turkey has helped Iran to avoid US sanctions
Erdogan's confidant, Sitqi Ayan, was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for leading a "sanctions evasion network...that facilitated the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of oil for Iran's Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps."
A Turkish banker was convicted of transferring tens of billions of dollars from Turkey to Iran.
Reza Zarrab, a dual Iranian-Turkish national, "may have helped Iran earn more than $100 billion" in illegal transactions.
Zarrab said in 2012 that Turkish officials, including those in Erdogan's circle, were involved in the plan.
The Erdogan-Putin enmity and aid to ISIS
Erdogan has reconciled with Russia and has said he trusts it as much as the West.
Turkish military exports to Russia skyrocketed in 2023, while Russia launched a brutal war of aggression in Ukraine.
Turkey then prevented Finland and Sweden from entering and strengthening NATO.
Turkey looked the other way and allowed ISIS fighters to enter Syria during that country's civil war. Turkish officials were reportedly buying oil from ISIS through front companies. The wounded ISIS soldiers were taken to hospitals in Turkey.
Human rights and Kurds
Turkey's human rights record is appalling, another element that separates it from NATO members. The Turkish government ethnically cleansed the Kurds of northern Syria, destroyed Kurdish rights at home and threw journalists, in jail.
The think tank Freedom House categorises Turkey as a Non-Free country.
Turkey's membership of NATO is an embarrassment to the alliance and must be addressed. NATO cannot afford to tolerate behavior and rhetoric from one of its members that is indistinguishable from that of Russia and Iran."
What measures should be taken against Turkey by US-NATO
While there is no provision for expulsion of members from NATO, there are other steps the US should take regarding Turkey.
The U.S. should develop alternative regional security arrangements that reduce NATO's dependence on Turkey and develop diplomatic efforts with other NATO members to address Turkey's behavior collectively.
The U.S. should strengthen relations and military cooperation with other regional powers to counterbalance Turkey.
Finally, and importantly, the U.S. should monitor and diplomatically address Turkey's internal political developments that contradict NATO principles, such as discrimination against Kurds and imprisonment of journalists.
Under Erdogan and the AKP, Turkey is not an ally. It is time to recognise this and act accordingly.
