Turkey statement by a former senior NATO member: Our patience has limits

Retired US Admiral James Stavridis, who held a senior NATO position from 2009 to 2013, spoke to Kathimerini, one of Greece’s most widely read newspapers.

Stavridis, known to the Turkish public, criticized Turkey’s lack of involvement in sanctions against Russia, along with other NATO countries. Making a statement on the functioning of NATO, Stavridis said: “NATO will not be forced to choose between Turkey’s membership and the Swedish and Finnish membership process. But the patience of the other NATO members also has limits, and these countries support the accession of Sweden and Finland.

Stating that unity and coordination within NATO are compatible, Stavridis said: “Only Turkey is against Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership. But overall, the unity of the alliance is remarkable.”

“I HOPE WE DON’T REACH THAT POINT”

Stavridis, who wrote to Bloomberg a short time ago and said: “It would be a mistake to take Turkey out of NATO,” also said: “I hope we don’t get to this point. We haven’t got to this point yet and we have to wait for the elections. in Turkey. But the border of the remaining 29 NATO member states has a limit. What you have to do at this moment is to lower the tension, see the result of the elections in Turkey and then think of my name.”

Stavridis also said he is confident that Sweden and Finland will join NATO this year.