Turkey has repeatedly softened language in NATO statements condemning Russia, part of a broader pattern of muscle-flexing obstructionism within the Western security pact, and of fellow NATO members rolling over, diplomatic sources with knowledge of the dynamic have told Al-Monitor. The latest such example was on display in a May 26 statement by the 30-member alliance decrying Belarus’ forcing down of a Ryanair flight to arrest dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner. The two-paragraph long statement did not include any of the punitive steps being pushed for by Baltic states and Poland because of Turkish resistance, Reuters reported Thursday.

The diplomatic sources confirmed the news agency’s version of events whereby Turkey said it would veto any language that called for support for Western sanctions on Belarus, the release of political prisoners and suspending NATO cooperation with the former Soviet state, which is closely allied with Russia.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who was present during the deliberations, “was shocked,” one of the diplomatic sources who was familiar with the affair said. The US delegation was weighing whether to hold out for tougher language but was persuaded by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who prides himself on “being a friend of Turkey,” to let it go, the source said.

Diplomatic sources said Turkey had adopted a similar stance for the wording of an April 15 statement airing solidarity with the United States over Russia’s cyberattacks on US government agencies, and another on April 22 expressing concern over the blowing up in 2014 of ammunitions depots in the Czech Republic by Russian GRU (military intelligence) agents.