Turkey turns against West

Sir, - The unprecedented events in Europe, and especially the Netherlands, relating to the Turkish referendum, represent a chilling glimpse of the future in which the Turkish republic is our opponent rather than our Nato ally.

That these confrontations were engineered by President Erdogan’s government, which is courting the ultra-nationalist vote to help win a constitutional referendum, cannot be doubted.

This referendum, to convert Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential form of government, is alarming as should it pass, it will in effect be President Erdogan’s enabling act.

Given his behaviour after last year’s coup attempt, when thousands were arrested and reportedly 100,000 civil servants dismissed, it is clear that this is a man who will push the limits of these further powers to the maximum.

Furthermore, these events tells us that Erdogan views his country’s European Nato allies with contempt and does not expect us to remain Turkey’s allies.

After the referendum, the president will turn to the European Union’s failure to honour the commitment made to visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

The inevitable result will be that Turkey reopens its western borders for migrants and re-ignites the migrant crisis.

We need to wake up to the fact that under President Erdogan, Turkey is no longer our ally, but a key opponent.

The time has come for us to re-arm to face this new threat on top of Russia, Iran and Salafist terrorism. Otto Inglis. 6 Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh.