With the situation in the Middle East remaining fragile, Ankara is choosing to move closer to Europe and NATO, of which it is a key member, while at the same time continuing to project the position that Turkey’s struggle aims at peace in the region, good neighbourly relations and brotherhood. Since the beginning of the crisis, the position of the Turkish president has been that of peace negotiations, thus avoiding damaging relations with either side, namely Iran and the United States.

Yesterday, however, speaking at an event after the end of the daily Ramadan fast, the Turkish president was less restrained toward Iran. He stated that “no one should adopt a wrong stance that undermines the principles of neighbourhood and brotherhood” and threatened that “in the event that a threat to our country’s security arises, we will take all necessary measures with the utmost care in coordination with our allies.”

The prolonged uncertainty over how long Iran’s confrontation with the forces of Israel and the United States will last is now turning Turkey toward NATO and the search for increased cooperation with NATO allies. The phone conversation between President Erdoğan and President Macron covered the issue of bilateral defence cooperation that has been delayed and needs to be accelerated, as the Turkish president stressed, who appears ready to try to use the concern of European and NATO allies in order to highlight his country’s military capabilities, so as to prevent the spread of the conflict.

However, the fact that Iran is intensifying its attacks in the Middle East – following the launch and interception of a missile against Turkey – is forcing NATO to increase the posture of its missile defence. The 32 member states of the Alliance agreed with NATO commanders that the posture should remain at an “elevated level” until the threat from Iran’s “indiscriminate attacks” across the region subsides.