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How Germany-Turkey discord could damage NATO alliance

Turkish-German friction on allowing German parliamentarians to visit Incirlik Air Base could have serious ramifications in terms of complicating NATO plans to combat the Islamic State.
A technician works on a German Tornado jet at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey, January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz/Pool - RTX23F6S

Anybody who thinks Turkey needs Europe more than ever to extricate itself out of its diplomatic isolation would be misguided. If there is one unequivocal consequence of Turkey’s recent dual reconciliation with Russia and Israel, it is enhanced self-confidence to stand up to the European Union.

The shortcut to standing up to the European Union does not lead to Brussels but rather to Berlin. As long as the “strong lady” of Europe professed a visible soft spot in her dealings with Turkey due to her need for a deal to stem the refugee flow across the Aegean, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan behaved relatively mercilessly toward Germany and through it, toward the EU when he felt it was necessary to alleviate the sentiments of his nationalist constituency at home or to deter the Europeans from pursuing any sort of policies that he thinks may impair Turkey’s interests.

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