Lindsey Graham, a senior U.S. senator and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently declared Turkey was becoming “the squad of NATO” whenever it comes to foreign affairs after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Israel a “war criminal”.
Graham was apparently responding to Erdogan’s inflammatory comments earlier. After an Arab and Islamic Summit was convened and President Erdogan referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “war crimes”, he went even further by joining a group of radical nations including Iran, Sudan and Qatar in calling for an international investigation of Israeli “crimes against humanity”.
The U.S. officials, including Graham, were outraged at Erdogan’s statement. Lindsey Graham stated “Turkey was becoming the “Squad” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). President Erdogan has been a vocal critic of the United States and around the world and has repeatedly forced the US to take sides in issues it never wanted to be involved in.”
Graham’s comments mark a break from the long-time friendship between Turkey and the United States since NATO’s founding in 1949. Graham is among many in Washington trying to ensure that Turkey stops being a “destabilizing force” in the Middle East.
Even though Turkey has been a loyal member of NATO for more than 70 years, recent events have put a strain on the relationship between the United States and Turkey. President Erdogan’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy has led to tension within NATO and the international community, while at the same time straining U.S. relations with several of its allies.
At this point, it is uncertain whether Turkey is still considered by the United States as an ally or as a “squad” member of NATO, as Graham suggests. However, it is evident that Turkey’s foreign policy is raising major issues within the alliance and beyond.
The United States must now decide how best to handle its long-time NATO ally and figure out a solution which would be in the best interest of the alliance to resolve any ongoing issues between them. A successful solution is needed now more than ever, as Turkey has become an increasingly controversial figure in international relations.
