BEAYC NATO Summer School
YATA Turkey was represented by one of its members Hüseyin Dönmez at the BEAYC NATO Summer School event organized by YATA Bulgaria in Smolyan between June 2-9. Nearly 30 participants from 15 countries, EU Commissioners, Bulgarian Executives, the US Military Attaché and academics from different disciplines were trained, exchanged ideas, and developed policies for the future on Security Issues in the Black Sea, Women’s Participation in the Public-Military Sphere, Defense Against Nuclear Threat, Russian-Backed Far-Right Paramilitary Groups in the Balkans, Hybrid Warfare, Future of NATO and the European Union.
The measures that Turkey and Romania can take against the security risks in the Black Sea posed by the administration established in Crimea after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in violation of international law and the partnerships to be developed were discussed. The threat posed to Turkey and its allies by the nuclear stockpiles and missile systems established in the region following the occupation of Crimea was also discussed. The speakers’ research results revealed that the separatist movements in Ukraine, which were fueled by Russia and led to civil war, have strong organizations in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia. The Bulgarian hosts also drew attention to the support of NATO and especially neighboring Turkey to prevent a second Ukrainian tragedy.
It was noted that changing conditions in the fight against terrorism and Russian-backed operations have given importance to the issue of Hybrid Warfare. It was revealed that the media, NGOs, and other civilian wings are used more and more effective than military power in influencing society. Russia-backed operations carried out through disinformation, fake news, and social media trolls in Turkey were shared with the participants.
NATO’s missions to combat gender inequality were discussed. Although Turkey has the lowest number of female personnel in NATO armies, it was shared that our country provided women with equal legal rights with men before many European countries with the proclamation of the Republic. In this regard, the modernization process of Turkish women was explained in the case of Sabiha Gökçen, our first female fighter pilot.
In cases of nuclear disaster/war, it was discussed how the Alliance countries can cooperate to improve the conditions of the disaster with full solidarity and information sharing. The importance of NATO as a military alliance as well as a natural alliance and solidarity mechanism in other areas was emphasized.
The session on the Future of NATO was held jointly with the session on the European Union. The possible policies to be implemented in the refugee crisis, which is the issue on which the enlarged European Union spends the most money, were discussed. NATO’s interest in overcoming the refugee crisis by improving cooperation between Turkey and Greece was emphasized. The speakers emphasized that Turkey’s purchase of S400 from Russia and the US cooperation with Kurdish militants in Syria are temporary policies and cannot affect the future of the Alliance. In addition, it was shared that Turkey’s EU membership and NATO membership are parallel perspectives.
