In 2003, a rare NATO disagreement delayed vital defense measures during the Iraq crisis
A rare break in NATO's 'silent approval' procedure by France and Belgium in 2003 triggered a diplomatic crisis that threatened the alliance's unity during the buildup to the Iraq War.
The standard of NATO unity was shaken in 2003 when France and Belgium broke the 'silent procedure' to block military aid for Turkey. While Turkey requested defensive measures like AWACS planes and Patriot missiles as the Iraq War loomed, these nations argued that such moves suggested a diplomatic failure was inevitable.
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