Lacking common points with the US, Erdogan looks for other allies
Strategically, Russia has cut it fine: initially there was a trilateral meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani. They discuss the situation in Syria. Meanwhile, the participants in the negotiations stay on different sides of the trench – Russia and Iran support Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Turkey makes stand against, however, it still keeps an eye on fighting against the Syrian Kurds, seeing them as a menace.
In their turn, the Kurds receive support from the United States. However, Turkey’s relations with the United States are devastatingly bad, not least due to Trump’s intractability regarding deliveries of Patriot missile systems, Turkey’s military operation in Syria, Ankara’s methods of pursuing their interests in the Middle East and, most importantly, differences of opinions on red lines in behaviour of a NATO member state in relations with Russia.
Well, Turkey is playing their game and two weeks after contacts with Putin, Erdogan announces the start of Peace Spring military operation in Syria.
Trump becomes angry, and as usual gives way to temper in his posts on Twitter. He threatens to destroy the Turkish economy, however, the latter is not embarrassed by such threats.
As Turkish political analyst Aydın Sezer mentioned, “Trump’s behaviour is far from that of reasonable and responsible leader. He is trying to drive US foreign policy as his own company, threatening to destroy our economy. This is a highly aggressive and non-diplomatic behavior. He should have already known that he would not achieve nothing threatening Turkey.” He also notes that during the crisis caused by the purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense systems by Ankara, the United States, including Trump personally, also produced various threats, though this had no effect on Turkey’s decision.
Well, Turkey is changing their strategic ally – Erdogan relies on Putin and launches the Peace Spring in Syria with the following declarations: “Whatever one may say, we will not stop. We are fighting against terrorist organizations, not Kurds.” He adds that he maintains “round the clock” contact with President of the Russian Federation Putin regarding the situation in Syria. He consults in case of any problems: “We also take all necessary steps together.” “Turkey is not experiencing any problems with Russia because of the Peace Spring military operation in Syria.”, he added.
Turks bombard Kurds in Syria, Russia supports them actively. Media space of both states is teeming with pathos news about the success of the military operation and the partnership between the two “great powers”. General profit seems to be quite obvious…
However, Erdogan does not stop on it as well. Ankara makes another curtsey to Moscow – and receives the “Crimean deputies” as part of the Russian parliamentary delegation. Sounds like a travesty. Travesty over European sanctions imposed against Russia for the annexation of Crimea, travesty over the international law, and travesty over the Crimean Tatars – the fraternal people of Turkey, who have been under severe political pressure and repression in Crimea over the past 5 years.
This Russian delegation which included disgraced deputies Natalya Poklonskaya and Ruslan Balbek representing the annexed Crimea in State Duma provoke a particular disturbance wave given the format of the conference of speakers of the parliaments on counterterrorism efforts and strengthening regional cooperation. Terrorists counteract terrorism. Isn’t it a joke?
Well, that is not a joke. Erdogan personally shakes hands with Mrs. Poklonskaya and she actively comments on her Facebook page and on the summit sidelines to Komsomolka newspaper – “The state of mind is magnificent, working, even festive: I am for the first time in Istanbul, we have very warm welcome – yesterday we had a gala dinner organised by Turkish President Erdogan. Such events confirm that our states are strategic partners, they are going hand in hand and are set to cooperation.”
Kremlin’s strategic move should be taken into account here as well – Poklonskaya has recently joined the parliamentary committee on international affairs and now defends Russia’s interests on the external arena. That is, this is the beginning only and it’s time for other international visits and handshakes to go on! And what is the world’s perspective? Everyone, except for Trump, are braced waiting for everything to be settled somehow on its own. However, it does not count Trump, as everyone has realised.
