Turkey’s Border Threat and NATO’s Role

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In The Media

Carnegie Europe

Turkey’s Border Threat and NATO’s Role

The West and Turkey should meet the Islamic State threat with counterterrorism and border control measures. That may not be a military operation, but it is a big challenge.

By Marc Pierini

Published on Oct 14, 2014

Source: Nato Channel TV

Speaking to the NATO Channel TV, Marc Pierini discussed the threat posed by Islamic State militants on the Turkish-Syrian border and the steps that Western nations and Turkey should take in response.

“When [the Islamic State] took Mosul, this was a quantum leap in terms of funding and in terms of weaponry,” Pierini said. “We now have an organization which is not a state (despite the name), which is a terrorist organization, but which has tactical depth: it has territory and it can move fighters, hostages, training camps, and military assets.” He added that the group’s technical capabilities could be seen in its ability to conduct a dual attack on both Baghdad and the Kurdish Syrian town of Kobanê.

Pierini believes that the jihadists’ aim is to show the ineffectiveness of the anti–Islamic State coalition. The insurgency is “basically a homeland security threat,” Pierini argues, and the West and Turkey should respond jointly with counterterrorism measures and enhanced border control. “It’s not a military operation, but it’s a very big challenge,” he concluded.

This interview was originally published on NATO Channel TV.

About the Author

Marc Pierini

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe

Marc Pierini is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective.

Recent Work

Commentary
Europe Doesn’t Like War—for Good Reasons
- Marc Pierini
Commentary
The Iran War’s Dangerous Fallout for Europe
- Marc Pierini

Foreign Policy Security Middle East Europe Türkiye Western Europe Iran

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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