Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told that he does not fear that Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia would see Ankara also turn away from NATO.
Steinmeier said Turkey is an important NATO ally “and must remain so,” although he also highlighted that he thought it unlikely ties between Turkey and Russia would become “close enough that Russia can offer an alternative to the security partnership of NATO.”
Germany is not concerned by Turkey and Russia’s more amicable relationship, as the two countries’ presidents meet, promising a new start to ties between Moscow and Ankara.
While relations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his partners in NATO and the EU have worsened in the aftermath of last month’s failed military coup in Turkey, Erdogan’s rhetoric to Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned much friendlier. European leaders have cautiously warned Erdogan not to use the crackdown against coup plotters as a way to weed out political opposition, but Putin has been largely supportive of the government.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Steinmeier told tabloid Bild that he does not fear that Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia would see Ankara also turn away from NATO.