Turkey withdraws troops after NATO labels Erdogan, Ataturk ‘enemy’
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey has “immediately” withdrawn its forces from a NATO military exercise in Norway after the name of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a photo of the country’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, were used on an “enemy chart.”
"They used an enemy chart in Norway. In that chart, there was my name and Ataturk's picture,” Erdogan told his party’s members in Ankara on Friday.
Erdogan said he was informed by Gen. Hulusi Akar, the Turkish Chief of General Staff, and its EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik of “an incident on Norway.”
"They told me that they are withdrawing our 40 soldiers from there," Erdogan said.
NATO blamed a civilian contractor seconded by Norway -- not a NATO employee -- for the incident. The individual was removed from the exercise, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
He said the incident was the result of an "individual's actions" and didn't reflect the views of the alliance.
"I apologize for the offense caused,” added the NATO chief.
An investigation is underway.
"It will be for the Norwegian authorities to decide on any disciplinary action," Stoltenberg added. "Turkey is a valued NATO ally, which makes important contributions to allied security."
Erdogan said Ataturk's picture and his own name were featured on an "enemy chart" during the drills.
"They used an enemy chart in Norway. In that chart, there was my name and Ataturk's picture,” Erdogan told his party’s members in Ankara on Friday.
Erdogan said he was informed by Gen. Hulusi Akar, the Turkish Chief of General Staff, and its EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik of “an incident on Norway.”
"They told me that they are withdrawing our 40 soldiers from there," Erdogan said.
Turkey is a NATO member and had troops participating in drills at the organization’s Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway.
"I told them to do that immediately. There can be no alliance like that," Erdogan quipped.
NATO blamed a civilian contractor seconded by Norway -- not a NATO employee -- for the incident. The individual was removed from the exercise, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
He said the incident was the result of an "individual's actions" and didn't reflect the views of the alliance.
"I apologize for the offense caused,” added the NATO chief.
An investigation is underway.
"It will be for the Norwegian authorities to decide on any disciplinary action," Stoltenberg added. "Turkey is a valued NATO ally, which makes important contributions to allied security."
Erdogan said Ataturk's picture and his own name were featured on an "enemy chart" during the drills.
Ataturk is a revered national figure in Turkey. He founded the modern Republic of Turkey after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I.