In a recent statement, U.S. senator Lindsey Graham has voiced his concern about Turkey becoming the leader of NATO after Turkish president Recep Erdogan called Israel a war criminal.
Senator Graham argued that allowing Erdogan to lead the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would be a grave mistake. He suggested that expanding the influence of such a controversial leader could not only lead to instability in the region, but could also cause an erosion of U.S. influence in the region.
The concern about Turkey leading NATO is particularly pertinent in light of Erdogan’s continued aggression towards both the European Union and United States. In 2020, Erdogan launched an offensive military campaign against the Kurds in Northern Syria, against the wishes of the U.S. and its NATO allies. Furthermore, Turkey has frequently clashed with other NATO members at the international level, most recently when Erdogan refused to recognize the maritime borders of Greece and Cyprus.
Grham has urged both U.S. lawmakers and other NATO countries to become more vocal in their objections to allowing a leader like Erdogan to lead NATO. He argued that it was “irresponsible” and “alarmingly unstable scenario”.
In light of the tensions between Turkey and its NATO allies, it is essential that the U.S. and other NATO countries remain vigilant and vigilant in their efforts to check Erdogan’s actions. Allowing a leader with autocratic and belligerent tendencies to lead such an important international body could have a destabilizing effect on the both the region and the international community at large. It is therefore essential that the U.S. and its allies remain unwavering in their support of NATO and its principles.