Erdoğan, NATO & why Turkey's presidential election matters

April 26, 2023

Erdoğan, NATO & why Turkey's presidential election matters | GZERO World

Turkey's presidential election is on May 14, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is not guaranteed to remain in power. How might that impact NATO?

If Erdoğan loses, "it'll matter a lot" for both Turkey and NATO, former US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder says in a GZERO World interview with Ian Bremmer. Erdoğan's opposition is campaigning on a pro-Western platform, and once in power, Turkey could once again become a helpful alliance member, stop using its veto power so frequently, and finally allow Sweden to join NATO.

"It'll always be there. It's a strategic country in that region," Daalder explains, "but we won't doubt anymore where its bona fides lie."

Watch the GZERO World episode: Russia vs. NATO: Heightened risk of war

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