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Türkiye's ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yilmaz, urged NATO countries to use their leverage to pressure Israel to change course, saying Israel's actions are deepening instability in Syria.
"They need to do more, use the leverage they have as much as possible, and pressure Israel to bring it to the right line," Yilmaz told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) in Ankara, speaking on the sidelines of the "Allies in Ankara" program held at Ankara Palas during the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
The event was organized by Türkiye's Communications Directorate, the Munich Security Conference, and the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA).
Yilmaz said many Western countries had made positive contributions to Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime a year and a half ago, but stressed that this support should increase further.
He said Türkiye wants stability in Syria both for its own security and to combat irregular migration.
Yilmaz criticized what he described as Israel's destabilizing role in Syria, saying Israel is "constantly occupying Syrian territory" and harassing communities.
He further accused Israel of pursuing policies aimed at depopulation and displacement in the country, stating, "This negatively affects the country; investors do not come."
"Political legitimacy in the country is damaged because part of the country is under occupation," Yilmaz said, adding that Israel's actions have a "catalyst effect" on Syria's problems by deepening every crisis.
Yilmaz also addressed criticism of NATO by U.S. President Donald Trump, including Trump's remarks that he would attend the summit only because it was being held in Türkiye.
He pointed to tensions within the alliance over European discussions of an alternative European army as a further sign of strain.
"The main issue, in my view, is NATO's future," Yilmaz said, adding, "Where will NATO stand? Is there really a need for it to continue or not? These will probably be the issues we discuss the most."
Yilmaz said Türkiye's role and agenda within NATO are not limited to being the alliance's southern flank, but are directly linked to the future of NATO itself.
"For a long time, debates over NATO's future and where the alliance should define its fundamental threat have occupied NATO's agenda," he said, noting that terrorism had served as a "temporary answer" to that question in the past.
Yilmaz said issues such as migration and terrorism, once dominant in NATO's security discussions, are gradually losing weight, and argued that NATO should not merely react to crises but position itself by anticipating threats.
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