Fears of anti-West alliance as emboldened Erdogan teams up with Russia to blitz ISIS in Syria – and threatens to leave NATO
Turkey's leadership has been under scrutiny since a failed military coup
TURKEY has said it would consider leaving NATO if the alliance does not provide necessary support as the country simultaneously begins to strengthen its ties with Russia.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the country will "think about exiting NATO" if it was not supported by the alliance in the same week that the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
The Minister said: "Turkey wanted to cooperate with NATO members up to this point.
"But the results we got did not satisfy us. Therefore, it is natural to look for other options. But we don’t see this as a move against NATO."
Turkey is one of NATO's largest military powers, second only to the United States. It is also a key member as it straddles the border between Europe and Asia.
Minister Cavusoglu said the recent meeting between the two leaders of Russia and Turkey was paving the way to closer ties between the countries.
He told the state-run Anadolu Agency: "In the past, we had separate mechanisms on Syria. Now, we are bringing intelligence, Foreign Ministry and military mechanisms together."
The countries plan on joining together in military, intelligence and diplomacy ties.
The Foreign Minister told local media that all details surrounding anti-IS operations would be on the table between the countries.
The meeting, held at St Petersburg, is a revival of relations between Russia and Turkey after a Russian warplane was shot down over the Turkey-Syria border by the Turkish airforce on November 24.
Turkey's leadership has been under the spotlight after an attempted military coup against President Erdogan left hundreds dead and more than 2000 injured.
But Minister Cavusoglu said the country was not happy with the way the EU responded to the attempted military coup that threatened President Erdogan's leadership.
He said: "Unfortunately, the EU is making some serious mistakes. They have failed the test following the coup attempt. Their issue is anti-Turkey and anti-Erdogan sentiment.
"We have worked very hard towards EU (membership) these part 15 years. We never begged, but we worked very hard. Now two out of three people are saying we should stop talks with the EU."
IT'S US OR HIM: Erdogan issues the United States with an ultimatum
Turkish President Erdogan has issued an ultimatum to the US, saying it must choose between Turkey and Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan blames for the failed military coup in July.
He said: "Sooner or later the US will make a choice. Either the coup-plotting terrorist FETO (the Gulenist Terror Organisation) or the democratic country Turkey. The (US) has to make this choice."
Gulden has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, USA, for decades with Erdogan calling on the US to send him back to Turkey.
The back and forth between Erdogan and Gulen over the coup has continued with Gulen even accusing the Turkish President of orchestrating the coup for his own personal gain - a claim Erdogan has said it "nonsensical".
The July 15 coup left more than 250 people dead with more than 2000 injured.
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NATO has now been forced to after the reports regarding NATO's stance around the failed coup in Turkey and the country's NATO membership, saying: "Turkey is a valued Ally, making substantial contributions to NATO's joint efforts.
"Turkey takes full part in the Alliance’s consensus-based decisions as we confront the biggest security challenges in a generation.
"Turkey’s NATO membership is not in question."
The statement also said the alliance was "committed to collective defence and founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law".
The spokesperson said: "NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO."
The NATO Secretary General spoke to the Turkish Foreign Minister on the night of the attempted coup and later with President Erdogan, strongly condemning the attempted coup and reiterating full support for Turkey’s democratic institutions.
The NATO statement said the NATO Secretary General, currently Jens Stoltenberg, expressed support for the elected government of Turkey and respect for the courage of the Turkish people.
The statement said: "He also conveyed his condolences for those who had lost their lives during the coup attempt."
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