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Germany: Turkish-Russian Thaw Welcome, No Worries on NATO

The ties between Turkey and the EU have been strained over the past couple of months due to problems concerning the readmission deal and statements from European politicians concerning Turkey’s fight against terrorism.

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Markus Ederer, state secretary in the German foreign ministry, told reporters that he told Turkish officials during a visit on Monday that Germany took the attempted coup seriously. “We can only welcome this”.

While relations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his partners in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union have worsened in the aftermath of last month’s failed military coup in Turkey, Erdogan’s rhetoric to Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned much friendlier.

Erdogan has sharply criticized Western allies in recent weeks for taking a hesitant approach to the July 15 coup attempt and failing to show solidarity with the Turkish people.

Chebli dismissed media reports that claimed Western capitals were concerned that Turkey was distancing itself from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, while seeking closer cooperation with Russian Federation.

Putin has been among the first world leaders, who expressed strong support for the Turkish government against the coup attempt.

Germany does not believe that a thaw in relations between Turkey and Russian Federation will affect Turkey’s role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance, the German Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

“We do not believe that the rapprochement between Turkey and Russian Federation will have consequences for the security partnership within North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”, spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told a regular government news conference.

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The two leaders are also expected to discuss efforts to find a political solution to the civil war in Syria, as well as other regional and worldwide issues.

Closer ties between Turkey Russia not seen affecting Turkey's role in NATO