The echoes of the Sochi meeting continue. The Western media, which praised Turkey for the opening of the grain corridor, is disturbed by the photo of Turkey-Russia rapprochement in the Sochi meeting. Financial Times, Stating that President Erdogan took a risk, the United States “risk of secondary sanctions” even made a threat. The European media, on the other hand, deals with Erdogan’s diplomacy with both sides of the war with mixed feelings of admiration. However, by using Turkey’s geopolitical importance, it does not hesitate to claim that it shows “opportunity” in filling the gap created by EU sanctions against Russia. A large part of all these evaluations are of a propaganda nature. Another part of them is not able to analyze Turkey’s Russian policy correctly.
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First of all, it is very valuable for the whole world, the Western alliance and of course our country that Turkey stays at a point where it can negotiate with both Russia and Ukraine. Despite the failure of some European leaders to negotiate with Putin after the Ukraine War, Erdogan’s first meeting of the foreign ministers of the two sides and then initiating grain shipments are significant achievements. with both sides meeting Turkey’s burden It also offers some opportunities. It is not surprising that new investments and commercial interest from both Europe, the Gulf and Russia are directed to Turkey, whose logistical value is again seen after the Kovid epidemic. As seen in the grain shipment, this strategic role also imposes responsibilities on Turkey. As one of the important countries of the Black Sea and the ruler of the Straits, Turkey wants a ceasefire and peace, not a deepening of the war. For this too a distinctive policy of active neutrality is implementing. Despite the criticisms of Moscow, Turkey, which has supplied UAVs to Ukraine, also does not apply the US and EU’s Russia sanctions, like many other countries in the world. The economic-trade relations deepened between Turkey and Russia at the Sochi summit do not intend to neutralize the Western sanctions. Ankara maintains the necessary balance in this regard.
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Turkey is one of the countries that felt the negative effects of the Ukraine War, which has completed six months. The increase in energy prices alone has increased the burden of the Turkish budget considerably. Even this, including humanitarian issues, explains Ankara’s desire to stop the war as soon as possible and to mobilize diplomacy. By the way, the criticism of “using its geopolitical significance” is pretty ridiculous. Geography is destiny when your geopolitical position confronts you with many crises. When you generate impact by managing these crises “opportunism” really? Due to its geopolitical position, Turkey cannot avoid the negative effects of many crises. Moreover, it never receives sufficient support from its allies in these crises. Iraq and Syria civil wars examples of this. Which Western ally did Turkey receive support from in the face of Russia, which settled in Syria? Some Western capitals hurriedly rallying the Patriots are still remembered. The issues of the fight against terrorism and refugees are more serious. Europe’s support for Syrian refugees is weak compared to Turkey’s burden. Erdogan tried to mobilize everywhere (including the UN General Assembly) to support the Syrians. The result is obvious… Shall we call it the opportunistic and unscrupulous world of narrow interests?
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During the Ukrainian War Turkey’s Problematizing its relationship with Russia It is not in favor of Europe. Erdogan’s achieving peace at all stages of war He is the only NATO leader who can take a positive role. should not be forgotten. sanctions against Russia even if it does not produce the desired effect It’s now harder to hit the European economy written and drawn a lot. energy sanction weapon, It pushes Europe more than Russia. Moscow has a lot of power to sell energy cheaper. number of countries. Greece’s extreme those who locked EU-Turkey relations because of their demands they have to go back and look at themselves. From the new sanctions risks of the USA and the EU instead of talking (for the 2023 elections relations with Turkey) It would be more accurate to choose deepening.
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