NATO May Protect Turkey in Case of War

Robertson stressed there “is complete agreement on the substance” of the measures to defend Turkey, and differences only concerned the timing of a decision to order military experts to begin planning. “NATO’s solidarity with Turkey is not in doubt,” Robertson insisted. The continued objections from the three nations came despite a dilution of the original list of possible support measures by NATO in an eventual war that was put forward by the United States last month.
On the table for agreement on Monday are plans to send to Turkey AWACS surveillance planes based in Germany, Patriot anti-missile defense systems from the Netherlands and military units specialized in responding to chemical, biological or nuclear attacks. The proposals also call for other NATO allies to defend U.S. bases in Europe and replace troops sent to the Persian Gulf from NATO’s peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Robertson called the options “prudent, deterrent and defensive.” Plans for NATO to prepare a peacekeeping role in a postwar Iraq or to offer logistical support, such as airlift or secure communications, to any ally that decides to participate in a U.S.-led attack on Iraq were removed, although officials said they could be reactivated later.
It was unclear whether the holdouts would change their position. In a statement issued just before the end of the NATO meeting, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said “it is premature to take a decision now already about the possible involvement of NATO in the Iraq crisis.”
However, Michel said Belgium did not “reject that possibility out of hand.”
There was no immediate reaction from Berlin or Paris. Turkey is the only NATO nation that borders Iraq and may be a springboard for U.S. troops opening up a northern front in any attack, prompting fears it could be the target for retaliatory strikes. The Turkish parliament voted Thursday to allow the United States to begin renovating military bases and ports for a possible Iraq war, a first step toward allowing in U.S. combat troops. A senior NATO diplomat who attended Thursday’s special meeting of the policy-setting North Atlantic Council said France, Germany and Belgium would eventually have to agree to Turkey’s request for help.
“There is no question NATO is going to do this, the question is when,” said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are a treaty organization where members have a commitment to each other … there is no other alternative.”
Diplomats fear continued disagreement beyond the Monday deadline could seriously undermine the alliance.
“If the response is not given, then the credibility of the military alliance will collapse,” Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said in Ankara last weekend. “If this is not done, then the credibility and deterrence of the military alliance will come to zero.”