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Toi Staff
Tarik Cyril Amar
Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.d
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Kersten Knipp
Maryam Aldossari
Sabine Kinkartz
Leonid Ragozin
Maximilian Hess
Andrew Mitrovica
Tafi Mhaka
Turkey’s growing role in NATO and its strategic influence
On July 1, 2025, Turkey will assume command of the NATO Allied Reaction Force Amphibious Task Force Command and the Landing Force Command, marking a historic achievement for the country within the alliance. This one-year leadership role will place Turkey at the helm of significant NATO operations, further solidifying its position within the Western military alliance. In a momentous statement, the Turkish Defense Ministry emphasized that this development reflects Turkey’s increasingly vital role in NATO and its commitment to strengthening the alliance’s collective defense capabilities.
This transition represents a shift in Turkey’s role within NATO-a shift that is emblematic of the evolving dynamics in global security. Turkey’s NATO journey has been far from conventional, characterized by both transactional relationships and strategic pivots in response to changing geopolitical landscapes. Today, Turkey stands as one of the most strategically important members of NATO, a crucial player balancing East and West, with a unique geopolitical position that grants it a pivotal role in shaping the future of European and global security.
Turkey’s relationship with NATO began in the aftermath of World War II, when Turkey sought membership in the alliance in 1948. However, it wasn’t until 1951, after Turkey sent thousands of soldiers to fight alongside the US in the Korean War, that its NATO membership was truly secured. In May 1951, the US extended an invitation to Turkey to join NATO, which was formalized in 1952. The alliance’s backing of Turkey’s membership was grounded in the geopolitical realities of the time-the rising threat of Soviet expansion during the Cold War.
At that time, NATO membership served as a crucial strategic asset for Turkey. It allowed the country to align itself with the Western powers in their ideological and military struggle against the Soviet Union. NATO provided Turkey with a national security identity and offered a platform for the country to play a significant role in shaping European defense........
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