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Acrimony erupts ahead of NATO summit as Turkey stalls defense plans

Turkey is impeding a military plan to defend Poland and the Baltics to force the alliance to support its military operation in Syria. The spat underscores political divisions that are shaking NATO ahead of its anniversary summit this week.
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Even before NATO leaders gather in London to mark the alliance’s 70th anniversary Tuesday and Wednesday, Turkey has put a damper on celebrations.

In a sign of a growing divide between the alliance and its second-biggest military force, Turkey has balked at a defense plan for Poland and the Baltic states in order to register its anger over NATO’s refusal to meet Turkey's demands over its own defense. The move could stymie approval of the plans at the summit, to be attended by US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other heads of NATO states. 

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