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Rare earths are vital for military equipment. This action is coming from a country that NATO has trusted with its best technology and they continue to flirt with both Russia and China, NATO's primary threats.
Do you see how my comment is about the impact on NATO's ability to wage war? What if Türkiye begins sharing military secrets with China? They are working with China on the mine referenced in the article. They are not trustworthy.
Yes they have their specific regional interests they will emphasize even when they offend NATO sensibilities, like giving Armenia the finger in their war with Azerbaijan, but that is not a major cost compared to what they give the US and EU strategically.
Or when they support islamists in Syria against the kurds and annect illegally parts of it. Who cares about those things nowdays anyway.
But if we want NATO to not just be a military force, but something something freedom and human rights, maybe we should care more about it.
Punishing Turkey over this will accomplish nothing and sabotage the relationship. The US already had a reasonable plan in Syria, supporting the non-PKK elements while maneuvering towards a political reunification.