Turkish Atlantic Council

NATO

In the event of crisis we act as a unified mechanism to provide security to our allies and partners in order to defend their borders and freedom. From the foundation of NATO in 1949, this duty has been fulfilled with great success by adapting to new threats.

As of today NATO is the strongest military alliance ever existed in history. NATO founded in 1949 as a defense alliance, as a strong sign of multilateralism, to protect and promote values such as freedom, democracy, liberty and rule of law — so NATO has two pillars: political and military. Turkey joined NATO after proving how determined she is to provide security and solidarity with the aggressed South Korea in 1952, alongside its neighbor Greece.

Member Countries

With the initiative of 12 countries in 1949, NATO was established, and kept enlarging in order to provide security to more allies and partners. As of today, there are 30 member states.

 
  • ALBANIA (2009)
  • BELGIUM (1949)
  • BULGARIA (2004)
  • CANADA (1949)
  • CROATIA (2009)
  • CZECH REPUBLIC (1999)
  • DENMARK (1949)
  • ESTONIA (2004)
  • FRANCE (1949)
  • GERMANY (1955)
  • GREECE (1952)
  • HUNGARY (1999)
  • ICELAND (1949)
  • ITALY (1949)
  • LATVIA (2004)
  • LITHUANIA (2004)
  • LUXEMBOURG (1949)
  • MONTENEGRO (2017)
  • NETHERLANDS (1949)
  • NORTH MACEDONIA (2020)
  • NORWAY (1949)
  • POLAND (1999)
  • PORTUGAL (1949)
  • ROMANIA (2004)
  • SLOVAKIA (2004)
  • SLOVENIA (2004)
  • SPAIN (1982)
  • TURKEY (1952)
  • THE UNITED KINGDOM (1949)
  • THE UNITED STATES (1949)

NATO’S MILITARY ACTIONS

After the Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, NATO deployed its own AWACS airborne early warning radar systems to Turkey in order to support international coalition’s campaign in Operation Desert Storm.

NATO launched its first military campaign in 1992 against Serbian forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina to provide civilians with security and to maintain peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Despite the general ineffectiveness of UN forces, NATO, especially after the Bosnian genocide, acted with growing decisiveness and established peace by aerial campaigns. NATO was active in Bosnia-Herzegovina even after the war to provide security in peace time and to deliver humanitarian aid.

After the war began in 1998 in Kosovo with the increased atrocities and war crimes NATO forces intervened in conflict in 1999. After a successful air campaign, Milosevic’s forces retreated and nearly a million immigrants were able to return to their home. As from today, there is still a multi-national NATO task force (KFOR) including the members of Turkish Armed Forces, positioned in Kosovo.

When the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred in US soil, Article Five invoked for the first time and a common struggle of NATO countries against Taliban began. Thanks to the efforts of member states and partners, a democratic state has established in Afghanistan. Until its disbandment in 2014, NATO-led The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coordinated coalition efforts. Turkey was heavily involved in ISAF and Turkish Armed Forces assumed the command of ISAF between 2002-2003 and 2005-2006. After the disbandment of ISAF in 2014, Operation Resolute Support begun to train Afghani soldiers and policeman. Turkey contributed 600 soldiers to Operation Resolute Support.

With the rise of piracy in regions such as Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, world trade was threatened. NATO launched the Operation Ocean Shield initiative in order to combat piracy. By this decision, many armed vessels belonging to ally and partner states deployed to problematic regions, including TCG Giresun frigate with the elements of Turkish Special Underwater Platoon (Su Altı Taarruz/SAT) of Turkish Naval Forces. As a result of this mission, piracy in the designated regions reduced dramatically.

In 2011, NATO intervened to stop the civil war in Libya and to maintain stability in Mediterranean Sea and in North Africa. Many NATO assets including Turkish naval facilities such as TCG Yıldırım, TCG Oruç Reis, TCG Gemlik and TCG Giresun frigates; TCG Yıldıray submarine and six F-16’s belonging to Turkish Air Force participated in naval blockade and in establishing a no-fly-zone.