Mutual benefit will keep Turkey and NATO together

Subject

Turkey's relations with NATO.

Significance

On November 24, the European Parliament voted in favour of freezing accession talks with Turkey. The vote -- 479 in favour, 37 against and 107 abstentions -- is not binding, and is unlikely to be put into effect. Yet it carried a heavy diplomatic message and served as a reminder of the critical point that Turkey's relationship with its traditional Western allies has reached.

Impacts

• Western concerns over human and civil rights in Turkey are likely to persist in the near future.
• As Turkey's EU relations sour further, NATO could assume much more importance for Turkish defence policy.
• Russian activities in Crimea, the Baltic states and Black Sea directly affect and pose challenges for Turkey.
• Perceived lack of support post-coup, in the refugee crisis and against the PKK, and stalled EU accession, are encouraging anti-Westernism.