In Boekestijn and De Wijk’s latest podcast, international relations professor Rob de Wijk takes stock. For example, he calls arms deliveries from Turkey to Ukraine positive, and the admission of warships across the Bosphorus can also count on De Wijk’s approval. ‘These are diplomatic activities to carry out a sort of mediation’, is his opinion.
On the other hand, De Wijk cites a number of negatives: ‘Thunder with Sweden joining NATO, black and gray exports to Russia, oligarchs who can comfortably dock their ships there, operations in Syria that do not always have America’s approval. , and I could go on and on. I find it very difficult to interpret, what exactly is going on there and what is actually useful to you in that country.’
This interpretation can be given by the former ambassador to Ankara Marjanne de Kwaastenet. ‘Turkey is a country that is in a very different region than we usually look at when we talk about NATO. It is a country that faces other problems in its environment, which do not always get much attention from Western countries. Which then presents itself as something that we don’t know and that we don’t know how to relate to very well.’
De Kwaasteneet sees that Turkey wants to profile itself as a regional superpower. However, according to the former ambassador, this does not quite work. Erdogan has failed to form a Muslim brotherhood with the Islamic regimes in the region. But at the same time you see that they obviously have a say in the conflict in the Caucasus [tussen Armenië en Azerbeidzjan, red.]. They really want to be a regional power there.’
The war in Ukraine has also given Turkey a better position internationally, says De Kwaastenet. ‘While before Erdogan was clearly Putin’s little brother, a different balance has now emerged. He benefits from it, which he can use for example in the Caucasus ». He also strengthens Turkey’s position as a NATO country.
How should that organization relate to Turkey? “It’s difficult. So far it is not in the order of unacceptable what they are doing. Of course it remains an important country with strategic depth vis-à-vis Russia and her position on the Black Sea.’ Tough action by NATO could therefore lead to difficulties. “When there are conflicts, it is sometimes useful for there to be countries that take a neutral position,” says the former ambassador.
Listen to the full Boekestijn and De Wijk podcast here