Turkey withdrew from NATO’s Ramstein Flag 2024 exercise in Greece primarily due to ongoing disagreements regarding the Athens flight information region (FIR). This issue has been contentious between Greece and Turkey since 1974.
Turkey’s decision was influenced by its refusal to submit flight plans for operations in Greek airspace, a point of tension that also led to Turkey’s withdrawal from the NATO 2022 Tiger Meet.
Despite the significance of the Ramstein Flag exercise for NATO’s cooperation and preparedness, Turkey’s stance reflects its longstanding disputes with Greece over airspace rights and territorial claims. The exercise, designed to enhance cooperation, interoperability, and integration among NATO forces, will still proceed with participation from Greece, France, Italy, Sweden, the United States, and other allied nations. The withdrawal highlights the challenges NATO faces in maintaining unity among member states when national interests come into play.
