 | A request that this article title be changed to2015 NATO special meeting isunder discussion. Pleasedo not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
| Date | July 28, 2015 (2015-07-28) |
|---|---|
| Location |  Brussels |
| Type | Emergency convention |
| Cause | Turkey–ISIL conflict |
| Organised by |  North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
The2015 NATO emergency meeting was an emergency convention of theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization called byTurkey, in accordance toArticle 4 ofNATO's founding treaty. It is the fifth such meeting called in the organisation's 66-year history.[1] The meeting was held inBrussels,Belgium on 28 July 2015 and was attended by ambassadors of all NATO's member states.[2]
The meeting was called after developments on theSyria–Turkey border resulted in an escalation of violence by theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), resulting in Turkey launchingairstrikes anddomestic police raids against suspected militants. The dissolution of the three-yearsolution process between theTurkish government and the PKK, as well as asuicide bombing inSuruç initiated by ISIL, were considered to be the main reasons behind the escalation of violence.[3]
Despite a series of terrorist attacks in 2013 and 2015 that were associated with theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Turkey had until recently followed a policy of relative inaction against the group. The government's policy of inaction was criticised both home and abroad, with relations with NATO becoming strained partly due to Turkey's refusal to allow theUnited States to use the highly strategicİncirlik Air Base inAdana Province tofight against ISIL.[4]
Since late 2012, the Turkish government has pursued asolution process with theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with which theTurkish Armed Forces have been in conflict with for over 40 years. The solution process resulted in relative peace and stability in the predominantly Kurdish south-east of Turkey, though violations of the ceasefire occurred on numerous occasions.
Turkey has usually been regarded to be at odds with NATO's policy on ISIL, having been criticised by many of the organisation's members for not doing more to tackle ISIL.[5] However, NATO has responded to Turkish requests to maintain security on theSyria–Turkey border, deployingMIM-104 Patriot missiles on the border in 2013, along with other assets since the beginning ofOperation Active Fence in 2012.[6]
On 20 July 2015, asuicide bombing in the Turkish border town ofSuruç,Şanlıurfa Province, led to the death of 32 youth activists who had been preparing to cross the border into the Syrian town ofKobanî, which had until recently beenunder siege by ISIL.[7] The attack was allegedly perpetrated by an ISIL-linked group named theDokumacılar, with ISIL claiming responsibility soon after the attack.[8] In response, PKK militants killed two Turkish police officers in the district ofCeylanpınar in retaliation for what they saw as collaboration between ISIL and the governing TurkishJustice and Development Party (AKP).[9] On July 23, five ISIL militants attacked Turkish military positions in the Turkish border town ofElbeyli,Kilis Province, killing one soldier and injuring two others.[10]
The increase in terrorism incidents attributed to both the PKK and ISIL in recent days resulted in Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu launching airstrikes against ISIL positions inSyria and PKK positions in northernIraq. Following a prolonged period of inaction against ISIL, the airstrikes received support from NATO members, though many stressed that the solution process with the PKK should be maintained.[11] PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan also announced that theUS Air Force would be allowed to useİncirlik Air Base to attack ISIL and maintain a no-fly zone around the border.[12]
At the same time,large-scale domestic police operations against alleged members of ISIL, the PKK and other terrorist groups were conducted nationwide, resulting in the arrests of nearly 600 people in over 22Provinces of Turkey.[13]
On July 26, the Turkish government requested the closed-door meeting in accordance to Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which states that countries can request consultations if they believe that their territorial integrity, political independence or security is at risk.[14] Such a meeting is the fifth in NATO's 66-year history, with Turkey having called two in 2003 and 2013.[15] NATO's Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg announced that the meeting would be held inBrussels on 28 July 2015.
Although no request for military support had been made, Turkish Foreign MinisterMevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that he hoped for support and solidarity from Turkey's allies in their campaign against ISIL and the PKK. NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg also warned that military support would not be unconditional.[16] TheUnited States and Turkey agreed to pursue a strategy of creating an ISIL-free zone in northern Syria, combined with a no-fly zone encompassing the entire Syrian–Turkish border.[17] Regardless, NATO denounced the attack[18] andreassessed NATO assets in Turkey as part of Operation Active Fence.[19]
On the basis of our December 2012 decision, the Alliance has been augmenting Turkey's air defence. We remain determined, in a spirit of 28 for 28, to continue developing additional NATO assurance measures and Allies are working to prepare other possible contributions.