Turkey may exit NATO in 5-6 months over US, Alliance's provocation: Minister

Turkey has announced that it might leave North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] within five to six months, citing provocative actions against Ankara by United States and its European allies—mainly Sweden. Turkey's deputy leer of Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi) Em Sancak me wide-ranging announcement speaking to  reporters in Ankara, asserting that Turkey will exit Western military Alliance over friction with Alliance and its non-compliant attitude towards Turkey's demands and interests. He also slammed recent episode of Quran burning in Sweden. Notably, Ankara abruptly cancelled Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's upcoming visit to Turkey.

" developments prompt us to take such steps. NATO is making us do so with its provocations. y have been seeking to contrast us to our neighbor Turkey. Turkey will leave NATO in five to six months," Em Sancak said. 

"y [NATO] have been trying to get us caught in Middle East crossfire. Finally, you can see campaigns against Quran in Sweden and Nerlands," Ankara's Aydinlik newspaper quoted him as saying. 

80% of Turkish population against US-led NATO 

80% of Turkish population is against Turkey being in military alliance led by United States, Turkish Minister claimed. " United States is a country running most hostile and destructive policy towards Ankara," he stated.

" Turkish people have lately been showing sympathy for Russia and [Russian President Vlimir] Putin," Turkey's minister Em Sancak iterated, using a friendly tone for its ally Russia. This week, Turkey’s Patriotic Party also launched a  nationwide campaign for Turkey to exit  North Atlantic Alliance. It also urged government to shut all military bases hosting US troops on Turkish territory.  

Moreover, Turkish leers slammed United States and NATO over stalled F-16 fighter planes deal, urging that Ankara must withdraw from Alliance. Ankara has been planning to upgre its existing F-16 fleet with 40 new Lockheed Martin-me Viper class F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization kits. But US Congress h been wary of Turkey's hostile rhetoric against its ally Ans and created hurdles to sales with a clause that would restrict ir use. Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in an earlier interview with private brocaster Haber Global TV, also condemned US Congressional hurdles, saying that Ankara “would not agree to buy a product in a way that could tie our hands.”

“Why should we buy a product that we can’t use?” Cavusoglu hit back at dissenting US lawmakers. Erdogan, in turn, denounced deal opposing lawmakers saying that Biden “must not fall for ‘games’ being played."