Turkey became a member to the NATO in 1952.

Ever since then, this alliance played a key role in the

security of Turkey and the integration of the Euro-Atlantic community. Turkey in turn held up their
end of the bargain in upholding the common values of the Alliance. Indivisibility of Alliance security,
solidarity among Allies and a fair risk and burden sharing as well as the consensus rule, are NATO’s
guiding principles and should remain as such. Upholding these principles and the versatility of the
Alliance itself in a politically dynamic environment has contributed greatly to the success of NATO.
Although NATO has been a fairly dormant Alliance on the surface, the tension brewing within does
not go unnoticed. The challenges faced internally is met with pressure from the outside.

Internally, the allies are panicking due to President Erdogan’s reluctance on allowing certain crucial
features of its democracy such as press freedom and also Turkey’s interference with the matter in
Syria. This angered its American allies, thus imposing sanctions. Further its willingness to sacrifice
NATO agenda if its interests are not met for example migration and terrorism. Externally, Russia
opportuned on the strain between NATO and Turkey. It offered to assist it in its Syrian situation and
also offered to sell it the S-400 surface-to-air missile. This jeopardised Turkey’s deal with America of
F-35 aircraft. Currently Turk military personnel are deployed at Russia and America to learn the
functioning of the machinery. America threatened to cancel the deal if Turkey were to continue with
the purchase of S-400, while Turkey does not seem to be too bothered by it.

Either way, it is highly unlikely for Turkey to leave NATO anytime soon. this is because despite the
tension and disagreements, the relationship is a symbiotic one where cutting ties will cause
unnecessary losses to both the parties. Russia simply does not have the budget and the quality to
replace all of the American machinery and training provided to Turkey through NATO. Also, the
other bloc is a rocky terrain with no economic surety. Likewise, Turkey’s trade with Europe is too
important to let off due to a hitch such as this. Losing Turkey is also equivalent to losing another
asset to Islam domination and that is simply too high of a risk for NATO.