Turkey, which has been a member of NATO for more than 60 years, and whose contribution to NATO's collective security system has changed in terms of quality and quantity in parallel with the changes in the goals and means of security during this period, organized a meeting to analyze the situation and expectations. EGİAD; He organized an event titled NATO-Turkey Relations: Being Allies in Difficult Times and discussed bilateral relations.
Ege University FEAS Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Sinem Ünaldılar attended the meeting as a guest speaker. EGİAD It was hosted by Deputy Chairman Erkan Karacar. Karacar, who made the opening speech of the meeting, reminded that although NATO is referred to as a military alliance, it is also a great political platform and said, “Countries have to produce and implement security policies in order to make their national and international sovereignty permanent. With globalization, security policies have become multidimensional as a result of the rapid advancement of technology and the widespread use of mass media. In the past, military security comes to mind when it comes to security, but today, security types such as energy, cyber world and food, which are constantly expanding, have emerged. Although NATO is a military alliance, it is also a major political platform. NATO, which was established for military purposes at the beginning of the Cold War, has ceased to be a purely military organization with the end of the war, and has become a unique multidimensional international structure.
Referring to the “NATO 2030: Togetherness for the New Age Report” prepared last year, Karacar said, “The report draws attention to some strategic issues. We believe that our country should also be willing to cooperate on topics such as close cooperation with the EU, closer political solidarity among the Members, ensuring adherence to the rule-based international system, and detecting and meeting new threats, which are prominent topics in the planning of NATO's future. Threat elements listed in the 2030 agenda are threats from Russia and China, Terrorism, Cyber attacks and Climate change. Especially climate change, if you remember, we discussed some topics at our summit about it recently. It is also at the forefront of NATO. The NATO report also establishes a relationship between climate change and national security. In this direction, we can receive support and support from other NATO members in matters such as research, data sharing and analysis, and observation.”
Reminding that NATO member countries have equal membership and right to speak in NATO EGİAD Deputy Chairman Erkan Karacar said, “Therefore, a NATO member can veto any NATO decision they want. Recently, what Turkey should do about the membership of some countries has been a matter of debate. Our point of view in matters related to foreign affairs is always centered on acting in the best interests of our country. In this context, potential decisions are positive and negative; It is very important to listen to the short or long-term effects from the experts and researchers.”
Ege University FEAS Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Sinem Ünaldılar touched upon NATO Strategies and Final Strategy: Madrid Summit. Emphasizing the text of the memorandum of understanding, Ünalildi said, “As future NATO Allies, Finland and Sweden fully support Turkey against all threats to its national security. In this framework, Finland and Sweden will not support the PYD/YPG and the organization defined as FETO in Turkey. Turkey also gives full support to Finland and Sweden against all threats to their national security. Finland and Sweden openly and unequivocally condemn the attacks carried out by all terrorist organizations against Turkey and express their deepest feelings of solidarity with Turkey and the families of the victims. Turkey, Finland and Sweden confirm that there is no longer any national arms embargo between them. Sweden is amending its national legislation on arms exports to NATO Allies. In the future, defense industry exports from Finland and Sweden will be carried out in accordance with Allied solidarity and in the spirit of Article 3 of the Washington Treaty.” Ünaldılar stated that Turkey gave the green light to Finland, that it intends to reduce the pressure of the West before the election, and that it will act not to be a country in front of NATO's enlargement.