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Turkey has blocked any new cooperation, including military exercises, between Israel and NATO until a permanent ceasefire is reached in Gaza, Turkish officials told Middle East Eye (MEE), the news outlet reported on Tuesday.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth recently reported that Turkey has specifically blocked Israel from participating in NATO’s annual exercise focused on resilience and emergency preparedness, scheduled for September in Bulgaria, according to information received by Israel’s foreign ministry.
The exercise, part of NATO’s 20th civil emergency response training organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre and Bulgaria’s ministry of interior, will take place at the International Training Centre in Montana, Bulgaria.
It aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and coordination among NATO Allies, partner nations and international organizations.
Two Israeli sources confirmed to MEE that Ankara had blocked Israel’s participation in the exercise.
One source speculated that Turkey’s move could be related to statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to protect the Druze and Kurdish communities in Syria. These statements, along with Israel’s military presence in Syria, have angered Ankara, which believes Netanyahu aims to partition the country.
A Turkish source denied that the move had anything to do with Syria. “We have been blocking Israel’s new engagements with NATO for over a year,” said the source. “However, activities stemming from Israel’s status in NATO continue.”
“Until a permanent ceasefire is achieved in Gaza and the obstacles to humanitarian aid are removed, we do not allow new or additional decisions to be made or new activities to be organized in NATO regarding Israel,” the source said.
A ceasefire was reached between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel in January following months of fruitless negotiations to end the deadliest war in Gaza’s history. Turkey has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s war on Gaza, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of committing “war crimes” and a “genocide” in the enclave.
Events and activities related to NATO training and exercises are developed by NATO’s two strategic commands — Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).
It is made public with the publication of the annual Military Training and Exercise Program (MTEP).
NATO exercises are planned in accordance with the political and military objectives outlined in NATO’s Strategic Concept document, and the Military Committee approves the MTEP. The military representation of each member state participates and votes in the approval process.
Although Israel is not a member of NATO, it engages with the alliance as a partner country through its Mediterranean Dialogue partnership, launched in 1994, and its Individual Partnership Cooperation Program, formalized in 2016.
Israel’s “Major Non-NATO Ally” status with the United States, granted in 1987, further facilitates its selective participation in NATO exercises, such as counterterrorism and maritime security initiatives.
However, all such activities require consensus approval from NATO’s 32 member states, a process Turkey has leveraged to veto Israel’s involvement.
There is no bureaucratic mechanism to compel Turkey to allow Israel to participate in the alliance’s official activities.
An Israeli official who spoke to Yedioth Ahronoth accused Turkey of using its veto power as a political tool. “Turkey’s position undermines regional cooperation and NATO’s ability to address global challenges,” the official said. “Instead of promoting unity and collective security, Turkey is wielding its veto in a way that harms strategic partnerships. Blocking Israel’s cooperation with NATO does not contribute to stability; rather, it undermines the alliance’s core values.”
Turkey has since vetoed all NATO interactions with Israel, including meetings and joint exercises. At NATO’s summit in July 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the alliance “cannot continue its partnership with the Israeli government.” In response, then-Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz called on NATO to expel Turkey after Erdoğan hinted at possible military action against Israel.
Turkish officials argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate NATO’s fundamental principles, international law and universal human rights.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that resulted in the death of 1,206 people and the taking of some 250 hostages.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, the Israeli military has killed at least 46,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 108,000 since that date.
A report released by Amnesty International on December 5 concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza qualify as genocide.