There is only one invariable element in the present atmosphere of Turkish foreign policy; that is branding one or all Western countries as enemy before holding any election. The first step was taken by Erdogan on the eve of the upcoming election when he commented about Greece as saying:” We will suddenly surprise you overnight”. But contrary to the expectation of the government of Justice and Development Party, the response to “Greece is not an easy target to hit” came from the EU and the U.S. instead of Athens, and it seemed to become a new problem in diplomacy field for Turkey. In this connection, at first stage the position taken by Czech Republic as the EU periodical president in support of Greece and then the response of French Foreign Minister who said:” France stands by Greece whenever it needs” is certainly considered as an alarming bell for Turks.
In this respect, Washington’s attitude seems to be noticeable. Having assessed the quoted sentence by Erdogan as saying:” we suddenly come one night” the Spokesman of the United States Department of State resembled it to Russian occupation of Ukraine and considered the questioning of Greek sovereignty over the disputed islands as unacceptable. As the U.S. believes, at a time when Russia has occupied the territory of a European country, we express our concern about remarks that may heighten tension among NATO allies.
There are implications which suggest Ankara has reached an understanding that with the continuation of adopting such positions, it will see the opposition of the entire West. Therefore, having said that:” as Greece does not have the same caliber as us, it is not our addressee too”, Erdogan has considered the issue has been settled for the time being. However, as we approach the election date, the issue can be used as a propaganda leverage once again.
From the other hand, the letter of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Treasury addressed to Justice and Development Party conveying the message of “if Western sanctions imposed upon Russia are violated by Turkey, the same sanctions will be applied to you too” is the second serious warning of the West against Turkey. Exerting pressure on sanctions against Russia will be increased on Ankara too during the next term. Moreover, in view of the remarks made by French authorities, French positions show that the country will assess Ankara almost the same as Russia, China and Belarus who are considered as the enemies of NATO.
As one of serious critiques of Ankara’s attitude on regional issues like Greece, East Mediterranean, and non – participation in sanction imposed on Russia, European Commission considers sanction on Turkey as inevitable for adopting policies against European interests. As Europe believes, from one hand Turkey is enjoying from all European privileges and potentials as well as European Customs Union, but from the other hand, the country has turned a blind eye on Russia and is at odds with Greece as a member of the European Union. While the West and Europe have adopted a unified position on Ukraine war, Turkey is seeking for its own benefits and takes an opportunistic position from the existing situation.
On the issue of illegal immigration to Europe, the remarks made by French Foreign Minister who said:” emigrants are being used as a threat against the West”, enlisted the name of Turkey along with other countries that have not adopted a suitable and satisfying policy on asylum seekers. While European Commission attempts to include Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen area, taking Schengen visa has become very difficult for Turk citizens.
Washington that has officially imposed sanction on Turkey as a NATO member and has deprived the country from F-35 fighters project, has disappointed Turkey by not selling F-16s to it as well. Having purchased fighters from both the U.S. and France, Greece has gained both the upper hand in aerial supremacy in Aegean Sea and feels Washington and Paris support extended to it. Turks are against any agreement that limits them. As they believe, applying such restrictions for the purchase of F-35s fighters by a NATO member for another member of the Organization is not acceptable by any means. They consider the reason for such oppositions as the existence of influential lobby of Greece and Armenia in the U.S. Congress.
Although Turkey has taken steps to normalize relations with the Zionist regime, Armenia as well as amelioration of its relations with the U.S., Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt in the current year and or through creation of grain corridor at Black Sea along with the United Nations has made it as one of the important achievements in Turkish diplomacy during 2022, but it still faces difficulties in its relations with the Western world.
Erdogan insists on maintaining his principled and determined positions on Sweden and Finland membership in NATO as long as the promises given to the country have not been delivered. Although Sweden expects Turkey will confirm its membership but it is not truly specified when this will happen. In the course of NATO Summit Meeting in Madrid, Spain, on June 28, 2022, a trilateral agreement on security concerns of Turkey was signed among Turkey plus Finland and Sweden as applicant countries for NATO membership the first meeting of joint permanent committee was held in Finland. Turkey has conditioned its agreement on joining Sweden and Finland to NATO only if its conditions to fight against terrorism are met by the two applicant countries. Unlike other NATO member countries, Turkish parliament has not approved the accession protocol of Sweden and Finland yet.
Likewise, the U.S. decision to lift arms export ban to Greek Cypriots has fanned the anger of Ankara as well as Turkish Cypriots that have good relations with Ankara. Ankara claims that it is bound to defend Turkish Cypriots’ rights and thus will take practical measures. The U.S. decision means to distance from a balanced and thorough biased policy extended to Greece. As Turkey believes, the main reason to take such a decision by the U.S. is; Cyprus is among the most important countries active in money laundering.
It more than six decades since Turkey is a candidate for accession to the European Union. The existing disputes between Ankara and the EU have faced the process of Turkey’s accession to Europe with very serious challenges. It seems that Ankara’s willingness to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is also considered to be a new obstacle for Turkey’s accession to the EU.