NATO: The investigation into the Courbet frigate incident will remain confidential ... to spare Ankara

[Vergennes]

On June 10, engaged in Operation Sea Guardian, carried out within the framework of NATO, the frigate Courbet was illuminated three times by the fire control radar of a Turkish ship as it was preparing to check the Cirkin freighter, suspected of violating the arms embargo decided by the United Nations with regard to Libya.

Further more,the sailors of the Turkish vessel in question, in bulletproof vests and heavy helmets, pointed their machine guns towards the Courbet. "It is an extremely aggressive act and which cannot be that of an ally against another ally who is doing its work under NATO command", will denounce Florence Parly, the French Minister of the Armed Forces.

In Ankara, a completely different version of the incident was delivered, explaining that the frigate Courbet had carried out "dangerous maneuvers" and that it had not been "illuminated" but was the subject of a "designation" by by the fire control radar of the Turkish ship. What the Turkish Ambassador to France, Hakki Musa, laboriously tried to demonstrate during a Senate hearing ...

The three Turkish ships escorting the Cirkin freighter used NATO identification codes, although they were not authorized to do so since they were not participating in an Alliance operation.

Either way, Turkey demanded an "unconditional apology" from France for implicating its ships in this incident. And, for its part, Paris announced its withdrawal from Sea Guardian [and other NATO naval exercises], explaining that it was not "healthy to maintain resources in a supposed operation, among its different tasks, control the embargo with allies who do not respect it. "

Shortly after the incident, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, agreed, under pressure, to launch an investigation ... But its results were put under wraps, given that they are "too sensitive" to be publicly revealed.

The investigation report "has been put under the carpet," a European diplomat told Reuters. Another said it was excluded from pointing the finger at Turkey because of its "military influence and its strategic position on NATO's southeast flank."

"The report on the incident with Courbet has failed because no one wants to humiliate Turkey, which has loudly asked for an apology," a European source confirmed. "The incident was recorded" and the "[North] Atlantic Council reaffirmed respect for the embargo on Libya and the rules of behavior between Allies," she added.

Clearly, if we are to believe the sources of the Reuters agency, Turkey is guilty of the facts that France accuses it of ... but its strategic position and its military influence, real or supposed, mean that NATO does not want not offend it. This explains, moreover, the embarrassment of Jens Stoltenberg, its secretary general, on the affair of the Russian air defense systems S-400 acquired by Ankara.

"NATO is brain dead," President Macron said last November. Perhaps. In any case, it is not strong enough to demand that one of its members stop trampling on its principles. And in the United States, some members of Congress are starting to lose patience. Like Senator [Republican] Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate subcommittee on foreign relations with Europe, who spoke about the closure of the US base at Incirlik, in an interview with the Washington Examiner on September 11.

“The path [President] Erdogan has taken Turkey on is worrying. It is disturbing and very concerning. And this is certainly one of the reasons why we are improving our military cooperation with Greece, ”he said. “We don't know what will happen to Incirlik. We hope for the best, but we have to plan for the worst, ”he added.

Otan : L'enquête sur l'incident de la frégate Courbet restera confidentielle... pour ménager Ankara - Zone Militaire

Le 10 juin, engagée dans l'opération Sea Guardian, menée dans le cadre de l'Otan, la frégate légère furtive Courbet a été illuminée à trois reprises par

www.opex360.com

 

[Sinan]

Language of this article clearly shows the biassed view. And all article based on "a European diplomat told Reuters". This is a very cheap way of making journalism. Just write whatever you want to write and show an anonymous source.

 

[Ryder]

Remember French arrogance they said all it takes is one french ship to make the Turks surrender now they are playing semantics.

Nato basically concluded that the Turks did not harass the French it was the French that was going to harass the Turks until they turned tail.

 

[bsruzm]

Make way!

 

[Glass🚬]

The issue is, if that was the case then the French would be even more eager to jump around it but they immediatly shut up and try to avoid the topic so this seems to be "fake".

 

[Saithan]

It's important to be able to determine how your actions are perceived in global stage.

By this I mean, you make an effort to tell the world openly and you make moves accordingly.

Being right or wrong is no longer important. What's important is to shout high and loud enough.

If we're not shouting then we should put full effort into letting our diplomats/ambassadors do the talking with the people in charge.

But this doesn't change the perception among the common people, so it's necessary to tell people our version so ppl can compare. Freely and unbiased.

 

[Ryder]

It's important to be able to determine how your actions are perceived in global stage.

By this I mean, you make an effort to tell the world openly and you make moves accordingly.

Being right or wrong is no longer important. What's important is to shout high and loud enough.

If we're not shouting then we should put full effort into letting our diplomats/ambassadors do the talking with the people in charge.

But this doesn't change the perception among the common people, so it's necessary to tell people our version so ppl can compare. Freely and unbiased.

International law means nothing when it comes to political interests.

 

[Sinan]

Guys, please use capital letters when adressing a country(France) or nation(French).

 

[bsruzm]

France ceaselessly wearing down NATO: Op-ed

"It is possible to say that France does not like NATO at all, and she is doing her best to weaken NATO and to destroy it if she can."

 

[Saithan]

NATO finds Turkish navy 'professional,' falsifies French claims

Nearing the end of its investigation on supposedly 'illegal' interactions between the Turkish and French navies in the Mediterranean during a NATO mission,...

www.dailysabah.com

Is what the Turkish newspaper says. It makes me wonder whether the findings wouldn't be announced when tensions were running high and such, but at a later date when the involved countries are busy with other problems.

It would make sense not to add fuel to the fire.