Turkey Blocks NATO's Balkan Defense Plans Unless They Recognize Kurdish-Led Militia In Syria As A Terrorist Group

Turkish President Erdogan meets with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. © Handout via REUTERS / Presidential Press Office / Murat Cetinmuhurdar

RT: Turkey refusing to sign NATO defense plan for the Baltics, pressing alliance to label Syria’s Kurds as ‘terrorists’ – report

Ankara has reportedly been blackmailing NATO, refusing to sign the proposed defense plan for the Baltics and Poland unless the alliance officially recognizes Kurdish-led militia in northern Syria as a “terrorist group.”

Agreeing on a new NATO defense plan for the eastern European countries has escalated from a formality into a true diplomatic battle, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing four senior sources within the bloc.

“[The Turks) are taking eastern Europeans hostage, blocking approval of this military planning until they get concessions,” one of the sources said.

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Update: Exclusive: Turkey holds up NATO military plans over Syria dispute - sources (Reuters).

WNU Editor: Can anyone say blackmail. Turkey also wants this .... Turkey to propose a donors’ conference for Syria at NATO meet (Hurriyet Daily News).