I write this after the conclusion of the two-day summit of the NATO nations held in Ankara from July 6 to 7 at the Turkey Presidential Palace. The meeting was chaired by Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey, who has governed his country with an iron hand. His main opponent was in jail as the heads of NATO states travelled to Ankara. The United States President Doanld Trump who likes strong leaders said that he was attending because the Turkish president was the type of political leader he felt comfortable with.

While Turkey is an important member of NATO with an army that was second in size to those in the alliance, its role in global affairs remains undefined. The largest army is that of the United States. Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, dwelt at some length on the relationship between Trump and Erdogan. This he did in an interview with western journalists. There is recognition of Turkey's importance to NATO. "There is an awakening in light of the new security and threat environment in Europe," said Fidan.

The summit took place amid an extensive crackdown on President Erdogan's opponents. However, the democratic situation in Turkey did not figure in the summit discussions. "The wolf at the door is not the state of democracy in the host country for Europeans," said John R Bass, a former US ambassador to Turkey. The wolf was an expansionist Russia under the leadership of President Vladmir Putin.

I often take the Turkish Airline when I travel to and from Pakistan. Since Erdogan has been in power, there are signs that he is taking Turkey........

© The Express Tribune