UPDATE 2 - Sanctions by one NATO ally on another contradict essence of military alliance: Turkish foreign minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER; REVISES HEADLINE

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Sanctions by one NATO ally on another violate the essence of the military alliance, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in Warsaw on Wednesday.

Saying that among allies, sanctions, restrictions, and impediments especially in the defense industry sector should be lifted completely, Fidan added: “The imposition of sanctions by alliance member countries on each other is not consistent with the spirit of alliance.”

“Sanctions and restrictions not only affect the allied country subject to them but also undermine NATO's deterrent capability and defense capacity,” he said after a trilateral cooperation meeting with his Romanian and Polish counterparts.

Fidan said in the meetings, they addressed the fight against terrorism and stressed the expectation for NATO to take concrete steps in this regard.

Saying that for many years Türkiye has paid a heavy toll in the fight against terrorism, Fidan added that it is the most natural right to expect unconditional support from allies in Türkiye’s fight against terrorism.

Fidan also said that on extremely sensitive issues, such as the fight against terrorism, all NATO allies need to show maximum solidarity.

Fidan underlined the need to fulfill commitments on combating terrorism at the NATO summit in Washington.

Stating that they discussed the upcoming summit, Fidan said: "It is clear that we need to enhance relations among our countries in the face of security challenges in regions adjacent to NATO."

On the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan added that Ankara prioritizes diplomacy and negotiation in all conflicts and wars.

"We advocate prioritizing diplomacy and negotiation in Ukraine as well. The diplomatic option should not be sidelined in the ongoing war in Ukraine,” he added.

Fidan stressed the significant role of the Montreux Convention in preventing increased tension in the region, stating that they continue to apply this "stability-preserving" treaty impartially and meticulously, both in letter and spirit.

Highlighting NATO as the most crucial actor in effectively ensuring Europe's defense and security, Fidan underlined the importance of avoiding initiatives that could weaken NATO's leading and primary role.

Fidan conveyed to his counterparts that certain initiatives in this direction gave Türkiye pause, emphasizing that initiatives under the auspices of other international organizations in Europe could undermine transatlantic security.

- Positive ties among countries

Fidan said the trade volume between Türkiye and Poland surpassed last year's target, reaching $13 billion.

"As NATO allies, we are determined to strengthen our cooperation in the defense industry through concrete projects,” Fidan sated.

Stating that Poland will assume the EU Presidency in the first half of 2025, Fidan highlighted the hope for significant steps to revive and advance Türkiye’s EU accession process during this period.

On relations with Romania, Fidan described them as being at a "strategic partnership level," confirming their commitment to further strengthen ties as reaffirmed in the recent High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting.

He mentioned their aim to boost the trade volume, which exceeded $10 billion in both of the last two years, to $15 billion next year.

-Palestine issue

Emphasizing that Israel, under the guise of ensuring its own security, has been killing Gazans in front of the whole world and displacing millions of people, Fidan urged countries that unconditionally support Israel to “consider their attitudes before it's too late.”

Stressing that they discussed the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Fidan stated: "The massacre ongoing for months now is a serious threat to global security, a threat recognized by all relevant actors. The massacre in Gaza has the potential to trigger a regional war at any moment."

"With an approach that turns a blind eye to this brutality, with an indifference that cares little for the safety of Palestinians, progress is impossible,” he said.

Stating that an urgent and lasting cease-fire is a must to end “humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza, Fidan urged all parties to “come to the table” and for captives and detainees held by Israel and Hamas to be released.

Fidan underlined the importance of facilitating the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.

He called for Israel to withdraw from occupied territories and for concerted efforts towards the reconstruction of Gaza.

Saying the crisis in Gaza could be turned into an opportunity for lasting peace, he added: “We invite Israel to approach the process positively, listening to calls from the international community."

-Mine threat in Black Sea

Fidan highlighted the importance of defense and military cooperation in Turkish-Romanian relations, stressing that drifting mines in the Black Sea pose a significant threat to both countries.

In line with commitments made at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Türkiye led the establishment of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group with the participation of Romania and Bulgaria to address this issue.

Fidan said the mines now in the Black Sea are there due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

He said Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye are both regional and NATO members and Black Sea countries and came together to develop an initiative against the mines.

He said Türkiye, Poland, and Romania will continue to contribute to the stability of the region and global peace “both now and in the future.”

-‘Concerns among non-EU NATO member countries overlap with EU security, NATO strategy more and more’

Fidan underlined that they consistently advocate NATO fully considering and addressing their countries' security concerns in all dimensions, and making necessary preparations and steadfastly confronting these threats with sincerity.

He stressed the importance of not distinguishing between members in this regard, stating that members' security concerns form the cornerstone of the alliance's overall security strategy.

“The concerns they carry are legitimate, and they have every right to make necessary preparations and efforts to address these concerns. But when it comes to NATO, Türkiye faces concerns like this.

“Not only Türkiye but also (other) NATO member countries that are not EU members share common concerns that increasingly overlap with EU security and NATO strategy. So NATO is becoming more and more dominated by the EU, with the EU dominating NATO strategies more,” he added.

“In such a trend, not taking into account the security concerns of non-EU member Türkiye and remaining outside the general orientation of the alliance will certainly not be compatible with the founding spirit and principles of the alliance,” he argued.

“I’m just drawing attention to this risk. Our president also says this from time to time. As a country that has been a member of NATO for many years and is a strong member, it is our duty to make such strategic reminders in a timely manner,” he added.

He also voiced satisfaction with the appointment of NATO's new secretary general, Mark Rutte.

Wishing Rutte success in his role, Fidan expressed hope for further strengthening of the spirit of alliance within NATO.

"We believe that he will understand the security concerns of both us, who constitute the eastern flank of the alliance, as well as the northern flank and the rest of the Atlantic side, and develop balanced perspectives in developing strategies accordingly,” he said.