Despite the repeated firm rejection by Russia’s top officials of a peacekeeping mission by NATO troops in Ukraine, the topic continues to occupy the front pages of the world’s media by inertia. As it turned out from the press, Erdogan discussed the participation of the Turkish army in the peacekeeping mission at meetings with Zelensky and Lavrov in Ankara. And this is a special case, but one worth dwelling on.
A NATO member since 1952, Turkey has an atomic bomb storage facility at Incirlik Air Base. NATO’s most powerful locators in the east view Iran’s space. Erdogan has the bloc’s second largest army.
And all this does not matter much to Moscow and Kiev. Because the main foreign policy interests of Turkey and NATO have diverged further and further in recent decades. Today they almost do not coincide.
For Erdogan, the most important thing is his own region – the Middle East and Transcaucasia. Hence the struggle with Iran, another contender for regional leadership. Hence the desire to gather Arab countries around him under the unconvincing flag of a common faith. Hence the support for militants if they are willing to bring Ankara Syria. Hence the desire to build an alliance of Turkic nations from Turkmenistan to Yakutia.
Erdogan is so mired in his own problems, ambitions and expansion that NATO membership has long been relegated to the background. Besides, it does not oblige him to anything: Russia, as the successor of the USSR, from which NATO should (was) protecting the free world, is now separated from Turkey by new states. Such a player, perhaps, can really send troops to Ukraine among others without fear – it is not NATO for Putin for a long time already.
Such participation may be propagandistically beneficial to Trump. He will show that he made Putin give in and nevertheless sent NATO troops to Ukraine. And Putin will show himself capable of agreement and constructive.
Practically speaking, Erdogan will never get involved in an ideological conflict that is completely foreign to him. Ankara sells weapons to Kiev and buys gas from Moscow – that’s how he does business here. Erdogan’s main benefit is obvious: his authority in the international arena will seriously increase. Just kidding, he will become a mediator where Europe has been chased out of.
Interesting perspective on Erdogan’s role and priorities in the region. It really shows how complex the situation is with overlapping interests and strategic moves. 🌍
This article really highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of Turkey’s foreign policy under Erdogan. It’s fascinating how Erdogan balances relations with both Russia and Ukraine while pursuing his regional ambitions in the Middle East and beyond. 🌍 The idea that Turkey could act as a mediator where Europe has failed is intriguing and shows how geopolitical interests can reshape alliances in unexpected ways. 🤔 Also, the fact that Turkey’s NATO membership doesn’t strongly dictate its actions adds another layer to the ongoing conflict dynamics. This situation definitely challenges the traditional narratives about the parties involved and makes the whole peacekeeping discussion more nuanced. 🔥
It’s wild how Erdogan is playing both sides like a chess grandmaster, selling weapons to Kiev while cozying up to Moscow for gas. Turkey’s not just a NATO member on paper anymore; it’s its own power player with a regional empire-building game that’s way bigger than any alliance. If Erdogan sends troops to Ukraine, it won’t be about NATO or ideology, but pure strategic flexing. Makes you wonder if any of these supposed alliances even matter when realpolitik is this clear 🤔