Turkey’s call for NATO help may be too late

If we look at the events of the last week in a vacuum, we can certainly understand why Turkey invoked Article IV of the North Atlantic Treaty, which will see the members of the alliance meet on Tuesday. Invoking Article IV is something that is not done lightly, and usually represents a significant threat to a member state’s security. Turkey also invoked the measure twice in 2012 in relation to the turmoil in Syria, once following the June shoot-down of one of its fighter jets by Syria as well as during fall border clashes. Despite the possibility of the situation reaching a boiling point, Turkey chose not to take significant measures against the effects of the Syrian Civil War pushing right up to its territory.

Then came ISIS. In the last year, Turkey has drawn the ire of other NATO allies for refraining to join against coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria. Turkey has moved on this position as a result of recent events, but it may have come too late. Unlike the events of 2012 — where Turkey held a strong case against Syria in a situation that had the world’s attention — the issues plaguing Turkey now must share a piece of the NATO pie with the alliance’s continued focus on Russian actions in Ukraine. The problem is that Turkey has not shown itself to be a reliable partner in this situation: why should the alliance give priority to the country when it has looked the other way on ISIS to win short-term gains against Kurdish militants? The recent attacks in Turkey are the latest symptom of an ongoing conflict that deserve serious attention from the alliance. Until Turkey cooperates in a manner outside of, “We’ll call you when we need something,” however, it cannot expect much from NATO beyond warm platitudes.