Turkey’s membership in NATO is believed to potentially expose the country to the risk of becoming entangled in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions, Ukraine has been seeking membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, despite support from many member countries, there are several obstacles that stand in the way of Ukraine’s entry into the military alliance.
According to recent statements from Czech President Petr Pavel, there are a number of NATO countries that oppose Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. While only three countries have explicitly opposed providing a roadmap for Ukraine’s membership, many others are hesitant to support the country’s entry into the North Atlantic Union.
One major obstacle is the stance of Hungary and Turkey, both of whom have expressed reservations about Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. Additionally, some member countries believe that Ukraine should first become a member of the European Union before joining NATO.
Despite these challenges, Ukraine has continued to push for accelerated NATO membership, submitting an application for membership in September 2022. However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has cautioned that Ukraine’s membership cannot be quickly approved, and that the decision will need to be made through a meeting of all 30 partner countries.
As Ukraine continues to navigate the complex process of seeking NATO membership, it remains to be seen whether the country will ultimately be admitted into the alliance.
