Turkey backs NATO plan to defend Poland, Baltics: Lithuania

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has backed a NATO plan to defend Poland and the Baltic states, Lithuania’s president said on Wednesday as the alliance’s leaders met at a London summit.

US President Donald J.Trump (L) and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) pose for a family photo during the NATO Summit in London, Britain, 04 December 2019. NATO countries' heads of states and governments gather in London for a two-day meeting.

EPA/PETER NICHOLLS

On Monday, Erdogan had warned he would veto the NATO plan unless the alliance agreed to designate a Kurdish militia as a terrorist group.

A veto by Turkey would have meant the defence plan would not have been accepted, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, who spoke to Erdogan on Monday by phone, told reporters the next day in London that he hoped a “positive solution” could be found.

Erdogan agreed on Monday to meet with Duda and leaders of Baltic states at the high-profile NATO summit taking place in London from Tuesday to Wednesday. The gathering marks the alliance’s 70th anniversary.

(jh/pk)

Source: IAR