AGI – Participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip at NATO Summit Erdogan seemed to be growing Centrality of the Türkiye within the alliance and a contemporary detachment from Russiaa country with which the Turkish leader has maintained an open channel of dialogue throughout the conflict in Ukraine.
Erdogan’s summit in Vilnius lasted three days, not two. Last Monday was perhaps the most significant date, marked by the historic green light for Sweden’s entry into NATO following a trilateral agreement with the Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Erdogan even went so far as to guarantee that ratification by the Turkish parliament would take place “in a short time”.
That is a not insignificant detail Türkiye’s rapprochement with the European Union and the fact that it is a live broadcast Consequence of the green light for Sweden. On Monday morning, Erdogan stunned everyone by declaring that he would give Sweden the green light if Turkey’s EU accession process were to reopen. It appeared to be a provocation, and instead it became the key to unleashing the veto on Stockholm that would otherwise have stood.
In fact, the Swedish government signed a protocol during the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022, thereby making promises that it then flouted, notably regarding the extradition of suspected terrorists demanded by Ankara and the end of demonstrations in favor of the Kurdish separatists, the PKK. Under these conditions it would have remained a no to Sweden, but the European integration process has defused the situation.
It was no coincidence that the trilateral between Erdogann, Stoltenberg and Kristersson was interrupted by a meeting between the Turkish head of state and European Council President Charles Michel. The latter confirmed his intention to resume dialogue with Turkey. A dialogue for which Erdogan now has another ally: Sweden, which has promised Turkey “active” support.
On Wednesday, the Turkish President met with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and called the stance of European leaders “a positive opening”. It must be said that Turkey’s integration into the customs union is more interesting than the almost impossible full-fledged accession of Erdogan to the European Union visa liberalization.
The first would be a positive sign for an economy that has been in crisis in recent years, the second a major achievement in a country whose citizens are forced to go through extremely lengthy procedures to obtain or be denied visas , if only to travel on holiday in Europe. The issue is deeply rooted in public opinion. The meeting between Erdogan and US President Joe Biden took place on Tuesday. The two leaders have promised that “a new chapter” in Turkey-US relations is just beginning.
Biden, apparently satisfied with Sweden’s yes, has pledged to unblock the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, promised years ago. It would be the end of a perennial controversy. A meeting that was “absolutely positive” for both of them lasted more than an hour. “So far we’ve warmed up, now it’s time to start in earnest,” Erdogan said.
On the wave came words about the agreement between the two on Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Erdogan had said Kiev “deserved” to join NATO and then agree with Biden that the conflict had to end first. “Peace has no losers,” the Turkish head of state himself reminded, and it is precisely with peace that it is possible to continue with the enlargement to include Ukraine.
© Sergei Chirikov/ Pool/ AFP
Putin and Erdogan Putin and Erdogan
The Yes to Sweden and above all to Ukraine, the rapprochement with the EU and above all with the USA, the American war jets represent political decisions that Moscow will not like very much. Over the past week, the rift between Erdogan and the Kremlin in favor of Biden and NATO has been apparent. Erdogan has promised to continue mediating for the “grain corridor,” an agreement that expires in four days and allowed Ukrainian grain and food products to safely cross the Black Sea last year, but negative signals are coming from Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in Turkey in August and the two will have much to discuss. Last week, the Kremlin made no secret of its anger at the release of some Ukrainian prisoners who were “guests” of Turkey. All the soldiers of the notorious “Azov” battalion are ready to fight again after returning to Kiev without notifying Moscow.
But the yes to Ukraine in NATO can only disappoint Putin, and the Turkish president knows this, even though he reiterated yesterday that he still believes in dialogue with the Kremlin. A dialogue that will be enriched by a new chapter in Turkey with the upcoming visit of the Russian leader.
Go to the article