Juergen Tritten, spokesman for the German parliamentary risk group for foreign policy, told the German newspaper Die Welt that since “no one can exclude Turkey from NATO, coercive economic measures against Turkey should be considered.”

This came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed a desire to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where Russia is located. It also coincides with Erdogan’s statement that Turkey will continue to do everything in its power to resolve the crisis in Ukraine through diplomacy.

It is worth noting that Turkey is currently a partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

On Saturday, Erdogan indicated that “his country is seeking membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” stressing that “this move will move Turkey’s relations with these countries to a different position.”