Stoltenberg memoir reveals Erdogan's pivotal role in NATO decisions

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has revealed extensive details about his working relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his newly published memoir "On My Watch: Leading NATO in a Time of War." The account spans Stoltenberg's decade-long leadership of the alliance and highlights numerous critical moments where Türkiye's geopolitical position and Erdogan's direct involvement shaped NATO's strategic direction.

Türkiye's Strategic Importance and Security Concerns

Stoltenberg recounts the 2015 crisis when Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian Su-24 jet that violated Turkish airspace, noting that while he expressed NATO solidarity with Ankara, "deep disagreement" divided the alliance. Eastern European members supported Türkiye's request for enhanced air defenses, while France and Italy opposed explicit backing. The former secretary general acknowledges Erdogan's consistent position on terrorism, quoting the Turkish president's assertion that "the YPG are terrorists" and noting that "no other NATO member had been subjected to more acts of terrorism than Türkiye."

Erdogan's Key Role in NATO Expansion

The memoir identifies President Erdogan as holding the decisive role in Finland and Sweden's NATO accession process. Stoltenberg writes that "it was President Erdogan who held the key," particularly after the Quran burning incident in Stockholm in January 2023, which Erdogan stated made Turkish support impossible for a country "which tolerates such blasphemy." This episode suspended all negotiation meetings and demonstrated Türkiye's significant leverage within the alliance.

Shared Security Logic and Coup Aftermath

Stoltenberg concedes that Erdogan had valid arguments regarding international military interventions, noting "Again, Erdogan had a point" when the Turkish leader questioned why NATO countries could operate in Syria without UN authorization while criticizing Türkiye's counterterrorism operations. The memoir also addresses the 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, with Stoltenberg emphasizing his immediate support for the elected government and acknowledging Turkish disappointment with what they perceived as "too timid and too late" Western reactions.