Norway abolishes export limitations on weaponry towards Turkey
After a five-year stint, Norway has decided to loosen its restrictions on exporting defense goods to its NATO partner, Turkey. Consequently, applications for licenses to export defense materials and items with dual-use capabilities for military purposes to Turkey can now be submitted as usual, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each application will undergo a meticulous, individual evaluation process.
Initially, in the fall of 2019, Norway ceased processing new applications for weapon exports to Turkey due to Turkey's military operation in northern Syria. This move was mirrored by other European nations in response to Turkey's offensive against the Kurdish militia, the YPG, in Syria. Even Germany temporarily halted arms exports to Turkey, its NATO ally in Ankara.
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, showed satisfaction with the announced removal of restrictions. A spokesperson for the ministry commented, on behalf of X platform, that this decision contradicts the alliance's guiding principles.
What led to the resubmission of defense export applications to Turkey, as stated by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs?After hearing about the lifted restrictions, one might ask, what was Turkey's Foreign Minister's response?
