Erdoğan, NATO & why Turkey’s presidential election matters

Turkey’s presidential election is on May 14, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is not guaranteed to remain in power. How might that impact NATO?

If Erdoğan loses, “it’ll matter a lot” for both Turkey and NATO, former US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder says in a GZERO World interview with Ian Bremmer. Erdoğan’s opposition is campaigning on a pro-Western platform, and once in power, Turkey could once again become a helpful alliance member, stop using its veto power so frequently, and finally allow Sweden to join NATO.

“It’ll always be there. It’s a strategic country in that region,” Daalder explains, “but we won’t doubt anymore where its bona fides lie.”

Watch the GZERO World episode: Russia vs. NATO: Heightened risk of war