MUNICH (voa) Diplomatic tensions between the United States and some European countries over Iraq are now threatening a NATO plan to provide military support to Turkey. Turkey could be a major staging area for a war on Iraq and Washington wants NATO to help Turkey prepare for any potential reprisal attacks.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Louis Michel says his country plans to veto the U.S. request by Monday’s NATO imposed deadline. He says approving the proposal would mean accepting that war is the only option.
France is also expected to veto the proposal, but there is now some uncertainty about whether Germany will go ahead with earlier plans to formally object as well.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called the idea of a veto “inexcusable” as he urged those nations to reconsider. He said it is time for NATO to rally around one of its members that may be put at risk. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also used the word “inexcusable” in referring to the idea of a veto.
The United States wants NATO to send Turkey early warning planes, Patriot air defense missiles and anti-chemical and biological warfare units.
France and Germany are among those nations that believe the United States is placing too much emphasis on a possible war with Iraq. France has argued that the NATO deployment to Turkey would undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis.
France, Germany and Belgium say, any move to plan for the deployment of such NATO assets as surveillance aircraft and anti-missile systems to Turkey would undermine efforts for a peaceful solution of the crisis.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, defended his government’s position, saying diplomatic efforts to secure Iraq’s disarmament have not been exhausted, and that it is premature to plan for military action.
