Latest Post

Why are Stanley cups so popular Why do we have Leap Year

Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952.

Turkey is a member of NATO, but it’s not exactly the most active participant. The country’s relations with the rest of the alliance have been strained in recent years, and Turkey’s place in NATO has been questioned by some. Here’s why Turkey is still a member of NATO and what that means for its relationship with the other members.

What is NATO?

NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was formed in 1949 as a defensive military alliance between nations in North America and Western Europe to protect them from Soviet aggression during the Cold War. The original members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. In 1952 it was joined by Greece and Turkey.

Why is Turkey part of NATO?

“Because we are a part of Europe.”

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Turkey should not be part of an alliance which contains countries like Germany and France as he reiterated his country’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“How can we trust you?” he asked rhetorically at an event in Istanbul on Tuesday night.
“You have to be loyal to us,” he said.
“We are not [a] European Union member … because we are a part of Europe,” he added.

“Because it is good for us.”