BERLIN (Telegraph) — Turkey is blocking NATO cooperation with more than 40 partner countries in a diplomatic row with Austria, it has emerged.
Austria has been prevented from taking part in exercises or future operations with the alliance despite the fact it has more than 400 troops serving alongside NATO forces in Kosovo.
Other partner countries such as Finland, Sweden and Ireland have also been affected by the ban, along with several former Soviet states.
Austria on Tuesday accused Turkey of “endangering the security interests of Europe” and branded its action as “irresponsible”.
The Turkish government is believed to be acting in retaliation for Austrian moves to block it from joining the EU.
Austria is among President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most outspoken EU critics, and has called for accession talks to be formally ended.
