Erdogan-Trump Relationship May Help Ease Differences in NATO

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's relationship with US President Donald Trump could help ease differences within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as alliance leaders gather in Ankara this week for a summit focused on security, defense spending, and transatlantic cooperation.

In an interview with The New York Times ahead of the July 7-8 NATO summit, Foreign Minister Fidan said Turkey hopes to use the close relationship between the two leaders to promote unity within the alliance.

"The relationship between President Erdoğan and President Trump can help reduce tensions within NATO," Foreign Minister Fidan said, describing the relationship as one based on mutual trust and friendship, as quoted by Anadolu (7/7).

He said Turkey intends to use the relationship "for the greater good and for the benefit of the entire NATO family."

Responding to President Trump's past criticism of NATO, Foreign Minister Fidan said he hoped technical discussions at the Ankara summit would go well despite political differences.

"I don't see a problem in that," he said, adding that although allies often exchanged harsh rhetoric, little changed in practice.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Fidan also emphasized that Turkey has the same understanding as its European allies about the importance of NATO, saying that the alliance remains indispensable for European security.

"No one questions the need for NATO," he said.

Noting that the European Union is expanding its defense cooperation, Foreign Minister Fidan argued that such efforts should complement, not replace NATO.

He said Turkey and European countries should continue to see each other as important partners in their collective security.

"We are also part of Europe," he said.

"Unless we unite in Europe and build a common security platform, we will never feel safe enough," he said.