Erdogan orders withdrawal of Turkish troops from NATO drills
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the pullout of dozens of Turkish soldiers from a NATO military exercise in Norway after Turk leaders were depicted as the “enemies.”
Erdogan said in a televised speech on Friday that he had ordered 40 troops to be withdrawn from the exercise after his name and that of the country’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, were placed on a “table” listing “enemies” at the NATO drill.
Turkey's leader said the incident, which took place on Thursday, was considered an insult and so he had instructed the troops, who were to take part in the NATO exercise, to pull out.
In response, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg apologized for the incident.
“I have been informed about the offense caused in a recently concluded exercise at NATO’s Joint Warfare Center in Stavanger, Norway," he said. "I apologize for the offense that has been caused."
Stoltenberg said the incident was the result of an individual's action and did not reflect the NATO policies.
“The individual in question was immediately removed from the exercise by the Joint Warfare Center, and an investigation is underway,” he added.
NTV private broadcaster reported on Friday that NATO had fired the military officer who used pictures of Erdogan and Ataturk to show “enemies.”
Turkey, which has been a NATO member since 1952, is considered a key ally of the West, particularly the United States.
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