Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused unnamed allies of sidelining Turkey within NATO, pointing his finger squa...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused unnamed allies of sidelining Turkey within NATO, pointing his finger squarely at Athens and Nicosia without naming them directly. Speaking at a reception for foreign parliamentarians on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Erdogan claimed that Turkey's "irreplaceable" contributions to European security are being deliberately overlooked due to what he called "narrow political interests." Erdogan called for an unconditional NATO-wide security and defense network stretching "from Texas to Ankara," demanding Turkey's full inclusion in every defense initiative across the alliance. He specifically urged foreign lawmakers to support Turkey's integration into EU-backed defense and security programs, a pointed reference to the fact that Turkey remains excluded from the EU's SAFE defense funding program despite Ankara actively lobbying for entry. He positioned Turkey as one of NATO's top contributors, citing the country's military size, defense industry, and over 70 years of alliance membership. Erdogan also called for removing barriers to defense industry trade at the upcoming Ankara Summit, framing it as a collective NATO priority. Erdogan also turned his fire on Israel, calling it a "genocidal network" and accusing it of deliberately undermining regional stability. He said those responsible for what he described as the ongoing genocide in Gaza "will certainly be held accountable," and argued that a permanent two-state solution based on 1967 borders is the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East. The speech was a clear attempt to pressure NATO members, particularly Greece and Cyprus, into backing Turkey's push for greater inclusion in European defense architecture. #NATO #Turkey #Erdogan