However, the final point of the communiqué stated that the 2026 summit would be held in Turkiye. So, the pro-government media still had a “success story” to report! Additionally, Erdoğan attempted to cover this gap during the post-summit press conference. For instance, he said, “We filed a complaint against Israel at the Hague Justice Tribunal with South Africa,” when, in reality, South Africa was the sole complainant, and Turkiye joined the case months later. He also claimed, “It is impossible for Israel to maintain its partnership with NATO,” even though Turkiye had approved Israel's NATO partnership and cooperation mechanisms.

AN ORGANIZATION ACTING BY U.S. ORDERS

The colorful politicians who propagate how “valuable” Turkiye is within NATO, the diplomats without and with the AKP's famous mustaches who “market” Turkiye’s influence in NATO, and the liberal and political Islamist academics who argue that Turkiye balances the U.S. in NATO should understand that NATO members are not equal, the U.S. is the boss of NATO, and one U.S. vote outweighs all other member countries' votes combined.

Of course, they know the truth, but their primary job is to make propaganda, market, and defend NATO. Hence, they will continue lying to the Turkish people.

There are exceptions, though. For example, AKP’s Mehmet Metiner laid bare the truth: “NATO is the armed stick of the U.S. It is a military alliance that moves according to the orders of U.S. presidents. The rest is camouflage, even deceit” (Yeni Şafak, 12.7.2024). Undoubtedly, Metiner's party is the one that most employs this camouflage and deceit.

THE FALLACY OF “NATO IS A THREAT BUT WE MUST STAY IN NATO”

The most critical part of Metiner’s article states: “NATO is an armed apparatus of the U.S. that primarily threatens world peace. This military alliance, which Turkiye is forced to be part of due to a lack of other options, is ultimately a threat to Turkiye’s national security and territorial integrity. If they can subdue Russia and China, the entire world will turn into a political, economic, and military colony of the U.S. empire.”

Firstly, let’s note that it is impossible for the U.S. to subdue Russia and China. On the contrary, the U.S., whose hegemony is weakening, is following a strategy to protect its current order “within its region.”

Now, let’s discuss the critical point: Yes, Metiner is right. Even if we close our eyes to this reality, NATO is ultimately a threat to Turkiye’s national security and territorial integrity. However, Metiner is gravely mistaken in saying, “Turkiye has no other option but to be in NATO.” This mistake is so significant that it negates all the truths in his article.

THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION

Contrary to Metiner's claim, Turkiye does have other options and does not have to be in NATO. Especially after the 38-point final communiqué, remaining in NATO is an even bigger burden for Turkiye. The main conclusion from NATO’s recent summit in Washington is that the U.S. is trying to push its NATO allies against Russia and China.

The claim that “Turkiye has no other option but to be in NATO” and its positioning by the U.S. against Russia and China would be Ankara’s suicide!

The “No other option” rhetoric that followed Atlanticism after World War II was wrong then because Turkiye had the option of “non-alignment.” The “No other option, we can’t leave NATO” rhetoric is even more wrong today; because again, “non-alignment” is an option, especially with the broader maneuvering spaces in “multipolar” conditions. There are platforms where you can establish political and economic partnerships without having to surrender your sovereignty as in NATO, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, the rising Asia, and regional union opportunities.

The only requirement is to remove the “NATO blindfold!”