EU countries lead bid to stop Turkey hosting Nato summit

EU countries are reportedly planning to block Turkey from hosting a Nato summit next year amid worsening relations.

Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are leading moves to have a planned summit in Istanbul moved to Nato headquarters in Brussels, according to Die Welt.

Eighteen of the alliance’s European members, and Canada, are backing the demand. They are said to be determined the alliance should not lend legitimacy to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime.

“We do not want to enhance Turkey’s international credentials and [give] the impression that Nato supports the Turkish government’s internal policy,” Die Welt quoted an unnamed diplomat as saying. Next year’s summit was expected to be held in Istanbul after an invitation from Mr Erdoğan, but no formal decision was made.

The EU countries and Canada are now expected to press for it to be held in Brussels. Belgium has indicated it is ready to host the summit. EU countries are believed to be incensed at Turkish moves to block Nato co-operation with Austria.

Turkey has been vetoing joint exercises and operations with Austria, which is not a member of the alliance but is seen as a key partner.

The move is widely seen as a diplomatic tit-for-tat after Austria called for EU accession talks with Turkey to be formally ended.

Germany is also unhappy with a ban on its MPS visiting troops stationed at Turkish air bases. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has threatened to pull German aircraft and ground crew taking part in operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant out of Turkey over the row.

Ankara has blocked German MPS from visiting the troops in protest after Germany granted asylum to Turkish military officers in the wake of last year’s failed coup attempt.

Mrs Merkel’s government has also been angered at the arrest of Deniz Yücel, a journalist with joint German and Turkish nationality, on charges of spreading “terrorist propaganda”.