NATO would defend Turkey: New chief

BRUSSELS

Incoming NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a first media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Oct. 1. AP Photo

NATO must be very clear that it would come to Turkey’s aid if Turkey was attacked, the alliance’s new Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Oct. 1.

“Our responsibility, the basic responsibility, is to stand up and be very clear that we are going to protect Turkey. Collective defense, Article 5, is something that is also going to be applied if Turkey is in any way attacked,” Stoltenberg said in his first press conference at NATO’s headquarters. Article 5 is NATO’s key mutual self-defense clause.

The new secretary-general also announced he will visit Turkey next week, on Oct. 8-10.