Turkey Is Replacing Pro-Western Military Officers In Diplomatic And NATO Posts Across Europe With Pro-Russian Hardliners

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their press conference near St Petersburg last August.

The Australian/The Times: Turkey puts pro-Russian hardliners in Europe

Turkey is replacing pro-Western military officers in diplomatic and NATO posts in London and across Europe with pro-Russian hardliners, sources have claimed.

Their accounts are backed by a leaked email seen by The Times.

The purge comes in the aftermath of a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the northern summer, and raises fears that the ability of the NATO alliance to function is being weakened, which would be a victory for President Vladimir Putin.

Turkish officers recently dismissed from critical roles within NATO have written to General Curtis Scaparrotti, the alliance’s top commander, warning that “ultranationalists” are on the ascendant in Turkey’s military, according to the leaked email.

“I and my Turkish colleagues observe a considerable rise of ultranationalist, anti-western sentiments within our military and throughout our state departments,” a senior Turkish officer and NATO commander wrote last week.

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Update: Turkey 'gives key Nato posts including jobs in London to pro-Russia hardliners' in the wake of failed coup against Erdogan (Daily Mail)

WNU Editor: For may of these purged officers, life has not been good .... NATO officers from Turkey have turned into stateless asylum-seekers (DW). More here .... Purged Turkish officers want more NATO support (DW).