Turkey: Erdogan Tries to Leverage the Nation's NATO Muscle as US Retreats

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a permanent seat for an Islamic country on the UN Security Council and EU membership for Turkey. The demands are unlikely to be met anytime soon, but they reflect a renewed swagger for Erdogan as Turkey emerges as a more prominent power broker and NATO linchpin as the US reconfigures its commitment to Europe. Bloomberg's Beril Akman reports from Istanbul.
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[Aa.]

The question is, why should the Turks protect Europe or enter in EU? Europe has always left the Turks alone in every issue, even in the issues where the Turks were right. In issues such as the Aegean Islands and Cyprus, without ever listening to the Turkish side, it has always found the Turks guilty and threatened them with sanctions. They have included countries that are not part of Europe, that do not even have a border contact, in the European Union and have always pushed the Turks away. If you were a Turk, would you protect Europe??? Clearly They don't need the EU or anyone else. Unfair Embargoes (sanctions)have made Turks stronger.

[chatissimu]

As a Turk, I don’t see any real attraction in EU membership for us. It’s a bloated, bureaucratic machine that’s lost its direction, constantly meddling and fueling conflicts. A sluggish, overstretched union like that has little to offer a dynamic and strategically independent country like Turkey. Maintaining good relations is more than enough.

[Handle]

with all due respect Türkiye does not need EU and has little to gain from protecting it, especially when EU opposes Türkiye in many other Conflicts that matter to Türkiye, e.g. Cyprus, Libya, Aegean etc.

[theancientsancients]

Turkish military army size is larger than that of France UK Germany Italy combined! It has more combat drones than all of Europe combined and its more tanks than all of them combined. That's why after the US it's at number 2

[ahmedismail]

I know Türkiye 🇹🇷 and how fast they grown militarily, technologically, economically, because I m from Somalia. Thousands of year’s civilization proud Turkey 🇹🇷 are for sure fastest emerging global economies military and not to forget their geopolitical strategic leverage of where the west meets the east. God bless our big brother of TURKEY 🇹🇷 . Amin

[MgDeHere]

Not Turkey. It is Türkiye. Start with pronouncing it well and then get to the second step. Even when the EU needs Türkiye, it still disrespects its most simple and basic need. Just a wright pronounciation of its correct name. Türkiye. TÜRK E YEAH!

[ivegotnoselfesteem]

As a Turkish person i find these EU talks disgusting and humiliating. Obviously its never gonna happen so why lie about it?

[mehmetkaanyildiz]

Frankly, as a Turkish citizen, I do not look favorably on entering the European Union. If we are going to enter, we should be like a semi-member because our relations with Russia and America are quite normal and we should remain neutral in all matters and protect our interests. The security of Europe is not our problem.

[MishimaKazuya-tmgh]

Turkiye contributes the second largest military muscle in NATO after the US with its drone technology ahead of even the US.Turkiye should also leave NATO and let them fend for themselves.

[tahiti]

Turkey is formidable militarily and it has a high tech defence industry, particularly drones. Unlike the US it has won nearly all of its military interventions

[rojvankoc]

Turkey dont need to be part of EU. Its part of NATO, and that its enough to say about Turkeys agenda

[jigensword]

Countries citizens, take as a job to become soldiers, Türk's are born as a soldiers. They have a saying every Türk born as a soldiers and ready to kill and die for the Turkish Flag to never bow down. And they build military vehicles gears only forward no reverse.

[Tennis]

Turkey was part of European security for 400 years. They ruled Eastern Europe, Balkans and Southern ukraine and Crimea for centuries …

[brbhavepp]

The EU isn’t what it used to be a BRICS membership makes more sense for Turkey considering the youth of Turkey would leave for a better life in Europe

[Janniserie]

Turkey’s military is no joke—850, 000+ active troops, NATO strength, and a young, dynamic population where every Turk is born a soldier. From the Ottomans to today, Turkey has proven its power. With Europe’s aging population and weakening defense, the smart move is integration. Otherwise, Turkey will find stronger allies. 😂

[Onuraction]

By the way, has the arms and military equipment embargo imposed by the European Union on Turkey been lifted? Does anyone have any information?

[LudfiTemurlenk]

Turkiye must leave Nato to, Turkiye don, t need the Nato .Turkiye can take care his self verry good.

[LudfiTemurlenk]

Turkiye most niet help EU, Turkiye is not EU, not Turkiye, s problem.

[EuropeanMongol]

I personally support Europe but I wouldnt want my precious country and young army to risk themselves for EU.

[edilee]

Only because EU suddenly needs Turkiye.
Even though I want a strong Europe, it's humiliating for Turkiye since EU talks only emerge when EU is in need. If they are serious this time, Turkiye should get loads of concessions.