A ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy has said something that a few even months ago, would had been unimaginable: “NATO is a terror organization” and the alliance has become a “structure threatening Turkey“.

AKP Gaziantep deputy Samil Tayyar in an interview with pro-government daily Milat, claimed that since its establishment, NATO had “always been involved in activities targeting Turkey“.

According to Tayyar, “Turkey has been subjected to coups since it joined NATO. NATO has always been in charge of the dirty and bloody deeds in the country. The 1960 military coup was staged by the British, the 1971 coup was staged by the CIA, and the 1980 coup was staged by NATO. In NATO’s new plan, a Turkey with [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan should not exist“.

“NATO has become a threat and is spreading terror organizations across the region. You can designate NATO along with DEASH [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – ISIL], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] and FETO [Fethullahist Terror Organization]”, he argued.

Tayyar also suggested that Turkey may opt for shutting down the Incirlik Air Base “as a precaution“.

“NATO exists as a product of the Cold War era. It is unnecessary for us to stay in NATO as it has turned into a structure threatening Turkey rather than protecting it“, he said.