Turkey’s Decision Shook NATO and the US: What’s Next?

The collaboration between Turkey and Russia on the Akkuyu nuclear power plant has raised significant concerns within NATO. This project, being developed under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model by Russia’s Rosatom, is seen as problematic within the alliance due to its potential strategic implications and the close ties it signifies between Turkey and Russia. NATO officials have indicated that Turkey’s decisions, including the procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defense system and now the involvement in nuclear power with Russia, represent significant points of contention, highlighting broader concerns about Turkey’s alignment within the alliance and its increasing engagement with Russia. Further complicating the situation is Turkey’s interaction with China. Proposals for collaboration in nuclear energy development with China have also sparked concern within NATO, emphasizing a broader apprehensive view towards Turkey’s geopolitical orientations and partnerships outside the alliance. There are concerns that these collaborations could affect Turkey’s military cooperation with NATO. Integration of critical systems, like air defense, which might become complicated with the introduction of Russian systems such as the S-400, could pose interoperability issues within NATO, affecting joint military operations and intelligence sharing. These developments might strain Turkey’s diplomatic relations with other NATO members, particularly the United States and European countries, which have traditionally viewed Russia and China as strategic competitors. The diverging interests could lead to friction within diplomatic channels and impact collective decision-making within NATO.