NATO's Secretary General: 'Turkey Has the Right to Self-Defense'

Although American commentators seem bewildered by Turkey’s decision to defend itself against the rise of a terrorist organization in Syria, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has Ankara’s back.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday, Stoltenberg explained that Turkey has the right to defend itself against terrorists.

“Turkey suffered most from terrorist attacks over many years,” Stoltenberg correctly said. “And Turkey, as all countries, has the right to self-defense.”

Ankara’s decision to stage a military intervention in northern Syria came after the PKK-linked YPG terror group established itself as the main governing force in the area. Since the Turks launched their operation, at least 340 terrorists have been “neutralized,” which means they have either been killed or captured.

These terrorists include members of the PKK-YPG alliance and ISIS jihadists.

Turkey has stressed that the operation is being carried out “under the framework” of the country’s “rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, [and] its self-defense rights under the UN charter.” Stoltenberg’s words confirm and legitimize Ankara’s views on the matter — regardless of what some U.S. politicos think.