Foreign policy spokesman of the German government, Jürgen Trittin, has condemned Turkey’s “illegal attacks” on Syria and Iraq in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on 29 November.
The German Greens MP said that NATO needs “clear decisions and clear positions” regarding Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, and Turkey.
“NATO must say no to Turkey’s attacks on Syria and Iraq, which are contrary to international law,” he said.
NATO cannot allow Turkey to weaken the alliance by blocking Finland and Sweden’s bids to join while simultaneously attacking Kurdish-held areas in Syria and Iraq, if it is to take itself seriously, Trittin said.
The German MP had previously called for tougher sanctions on Turkey, saying in September that NATO and the European Union “should ask themselves how long they will let Erdoğan toy with them.”
Turkey has been conducting airstrikes targeting power stations, oil sites, schools and even a covid-19 hospital in Kurdish regions in Syria and Iraq since 19 November. The airstrikes have killed dozens, including a journalist who was reporting in the area.
There have been calls for global action against Turkey’s ongoing attacks in the region.
