Turkey: We Need Defense Cooperation Outside of NATO

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated that since some Western countries are "unwilling to sell their defense equipment or exchange information" with Ankara, Turkey needs defense cooperation with countries outside of NATO. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Cavusoglu added that Turkey is one of the "largest supporters" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He dismissed speculations about Turkey leaving NATO, saying such conjectures come from "anti-Turkey circles" and that the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not made such statements. Last week, Erdogan traveled to Russia for his first trip since the recent failed coup in Turkey. Cavusoglu noted, "It is clear that we need to cooperate with other partners regarding the buying and selling of military equipment." He explained Ankara's desire for defense cooperation outside of NATO by stating, "Because some of our NATO partners are unwilling to sell air defense equipment or exchange information with us." Cavusoglu also criticized what he called the "humiliation" of Ankara by the European Union, stating that EU member states are humiliating Turkey instead of helping its people who have suffered "severe psychological trauma" after the recent failed coup. Relations between Turkey and the EU have cooled following the crackdowns and mass arrests by Erdogan's government after the coup. The Erdogan administration has detained and purged thousands suspected of links to Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric residing in the U.S. whom they accuse of being the main supporter and instigator of the recent coup. Turkey has also strongly rejected EU criticisms that the "widespread purges in the country could lead to human rights violations" and has demanded visa-free travel for its citizens to Europe in exchange for preventing the influx of refugees into Europe. Meanwhile, the EU has warned Turkey that the post-coup crackdowns could jeopardize Ankara's chances for visa-free travel for its citizens to the EU. European leaders have also warned Turkey about halting its EU accession negotiations if capital punishment is legalized in the country. Cavusoglu stated that Turkey has made significant efforts to fulfill its commitments to the EU, but in return, it has only received "humiliation and insult" from the 28 member states. He accused the EU of "encouraging coup plotters" and added that Europe's behavior towards Turkey has led him to question, "What crime or sin have we committed, and why does Europe show such hostility towards us?"