Turkey also makes substantial financial contributions to the budgets of the UN peacekeeping missions and peacebuilding efforts. Turkey participates in various Country Configurations of the UN Peacebuilding Commission which have been created following the World Summit held in Turkey is also a significant contributor to the Peacebuilding Fund PBF that has an important role in providing coordinated efforts and sustainable support to post-conflict countries, especially for strengthening civilian capacity.
Follow the ministry:. Contact Us In an email interview, Nil S. WPR: In what capacity has Turkey contributed to European Union peacekeeping missions, and how does Turkey decide whether or not to participate in a given mission? Nil S. Satana : In compliance with its framework agreement for participation in EU crisis management operations signed in June , Turkey has deployed both military and police forces to former and current EU missions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Exceptionalism : Turkey is perceived as a rising power by its policymakers and peacekeeping is seen as a vehicle for advancing Turkish regional and global interests in the political and economic domains. In other words, the international organizations that are deemed more useful to pursue political goals gain priority over others. Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. Similarly, the U. Difficult domestic politics : The AKP has been in government since The rather weak opposition parties, especially nationalist ones such as the Nationalist Action Party MHP are critical of participation in peacekeeping operations, arguing that they are a distraction from the struggle against the PKK.
It is therefore quite difficult to build a consensus about UN missions, although the AKP has been very good at either justifying the mission Sudan or passing legislation despite objections Lebanon.
Resistance in the Military : Turkish military officers sent to UN missions are not efficiently utilized once they return from their tours. In particular, the TAF does not fully assess the value of UN missions and the experience that its officers gain in these missions.
Thus, some military officers see UN tours as a waste of their time because they do not improve their career paths. Nevertheless, the officers see some value in developing their language skills through UN missions, which is only a minor motivation compared to potential benefits such as salary raises and promotions. Lack of fit with legislative, procurement and operational timelines : Not applicable to Turkey. In particular, the last six months has seen a major escalation in the counter-insurgency effort against the PKK.
However, the opposition parties, especially the Nationalist Action Party, are against sending troops to peace missions abroad unless national interests are significantly at stake. The General Staff officially states that it supports all peacekeeping missions; however, the military clearly prioritizes NATO operations over UN missions.
Since the Turkish public has low tolerance of human losses in peacekeeping operations abroad, the government is at times limited by the opposition and public opinion. There is limited public debate on UN peacekeeping in Turkey. The opposition of major political parties such as the MHP or columnists in newspapers is hardly consequential in affecting peacekeeping decisions. With its majority in the parliament and as a one-party government, the AKP is decisive in peacekeeping policymaking.
With its recent control of the military, the government is able to easily pass decisions through parliament. The Turkish military includes a large conscripted body of soldiers who are well equipped and trained. Thus, capability is less of an issue than how UN peacekeeping is politically perceived and utilized as a tool to advance Turkish national interests.
Turkey also has significant potential to contribute more to UN missions with its large military and police base and its growing economy. One significant caveat is that the Turkish military prefers low risk UN peacekeeping missions.
There is little tolerance for casualties in the Turkish public as more than 30, people have died since in the struggle against the PKK.
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