Tweet
Turkey Is Becoming A Threat
Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments - 16 August 2014, 16:29
Turkish expansion towards the Near East is its reaction to and natural
continuation of the U.S. policy which mostly discredited the policy of
the United States and Europe on the region, leaving no room for
maneuver, hopes for achievement of mutual understanding between the
West and Arab and Islamic states.
At present even the most Europeanized part of Arab intellectuals and
politicians are disappointed with the policy and ideology of liberal
democracy, as well as Western assistance in development of these
states. In addition, such attitudes are not only to the United States
but also Europe and Russia.
According to some authors, the peak of lack of confidence and
rejection of the Western policy by Arab states has not been reached
yet but with certain popularity of democratic and liberal ideas the
West is no longer an embodiment of this ideology and system of values.
Developments in Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt demonstrated that the Arab
people choose their path and hopes relating to strengthening of
radical Islam have increased.
The present Turkish foreign policy has a fundamentally confrontational
character not only towards the West but also Russia and many countries
of the region. Turkey's urge to create zones of economic cooperation
is aimed at creating zones of economic influence. This means that
Turkey intends to achieve economic advantages, including new markets
of goods and services, investments, implementation of projects of
mineral resources and carbohydrates.
Turkey understands that it is not competitive with economically
developed countries in different markets without a necessary
political-administrative protection and is trying to set up
"patron-vassal" relations with the countries of the region with the
purpose of closing vast markets for other countries.
(It should be noted that Turkey tried to implement a similar policy in
Central Asia which was doomed to failure due to the Chinese economic
expansion. Turkey was not competitive with Iran's goods and economic
activities which, besides manufactured goods, may also offer
considerable quantities of oil and gas.)
The best outcome of this policy could be a "peaceful" and "voluntary"
retreat and return to the position which ensured a wide enough
economic presence for Turkey. However, Turkey is overwhelmed by
expansion and is not going to assess the situation soberly.
While earlier it seemed that the "solution" in this Turkish policy
would not be soon, and there is a lot of time to figure out and
prevent the upcoming developments, now it is clear that Turkish
expansion has already run into the wall of countries which have
decided to counteract this obvious threat.
A lot of countries of the Near East see in this Turkish policy threats
of confrontation with Turkey and the Western community, primarily the
United States. It is justified because the Turkish policy does not
suppose passive and quiet detachment of the region but escalation with
the West not for economic purposes.
The creation of the "Ottoman Empire", even in a conditional format,
with the purpose of boosting Turkish influence on the world, obtaining
of a new global status requires its dominance over the countries of
the region in one form or another, and accordingly strengthening of
its position in the dialogue with the global "centers of power".
Despite being closer than ever, the relations between the United
States and France are tense over the aspect of accession of Turkey to
the European Union, and the dialogue between the two countries on the
"Turkish topic" is limited and obviously unfriendly.
Therefore, the dialogue is not substantial on either accession to the
EU or other issues relating to Turkey. There is no necessity to speak
about any U.S.-French agreements on this issue because there are no
such agreements. At present, the United States and France are having
consultations on the problems of the Near East, the Balkans and the
Caucasus, other regions, primarily Iran but consultations on Turkey
are quite limited.
France understands that it cannot fulfill objectives of strategic
planning on Turkey, Near East and other regions like the United
States. It does not have sufficient military political and economic
resources. Besides, to some extent, France has to take steps that are
alternatives to the U.S. moves in the Near East, protecting its
interests and, to some extent, European interests.
However, France is ready to support any initiative by the United
States that is aimed at Turkey's "containment" in different
directions. In any case, France does not anyhow contradict fulfillment
of U.S. objectives on Turkey. Such an arrangement may mean that there
is a tacit agreement between France and the United States on problems
relating to Turkish policy.
We think this is a justified arrangement, and for the time being it is
not worth looking for more substantive and obvious proof to existence
of such agreements.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32847#sthash.POip545C.dpuf
From: Baghdasarian
Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments - 16 August 2014, 16:29
Turkish expansion towards the Near East is its reaction to and natural
continuation of the U.S. policy which mostly discredited the policy of
the United States and Europe on the region, leaving no room for
maneuver, hopes for achievement of mutual understanding between the
West and Arab and Islamic states.
At present even the most Europeanized part of Arab intellectuals and
politicians are disappointed with the policy and ideology of liberal
democracy, as well as Western assistance in development of these
states. In addition, such attitudes are not only to the United States
but also Europe and Russia.
According to some authors, the peak of lack of confidence and
rejection of the Western policy by Arab states has not been reached
yet but with certain popularity of democratic and liberal ideas the
West is no longer an embodiment of this ideology and system of values.
Developments in Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt demonstrated that the Arab
people choose their path and hopes relating to strengthening of
radical Islam have increased.
The present Turkish foreign policy has a fundamentally confrontational
character not only towards the West but also Russia and many countries
of the region. Turkey's urge to create zones of economic cooperation
is aimed at creating zones of economic influence. This means that
Turkey intends to achieve economic advantages, including new markets
of goods and services, investments, implementation of projects of
mineral resources and carbohydrates.
Turkey understands that it is not competitive with economically
developed countries in different markets without a necessary
political-administrative protection and is trying to set up
"patron-vassal" relations with the countries of the region with the
purpose of closing vast markets for other countries.
(It should be noted that Turkey tried to implement a similar policy in
Central Asia which was doomed to failure due to the Chinese economic
expansion. Turkey was not competitive with Iran's goods and economic
activities which, besides manufactured goods, may also offer
considerable quantities of oil and gas.)
The best outcome of this policy could be a "peaceful" and "voluntary"
retreat and return to the position which ensured a wide enough
economic presence for Turkey. However, Turkey is overwhelmed by
expansion and is not going to assess the situation soberly.
While earlier it seemed that the "solution" in this Turkish policy
would not be soon, and there is a lot of time to figure out and
prevent the upcoming developments, now it is clear that Turkish
expansion has already run into the wall of countries which have
decided to counteract this obvious threat.
A lot of countries of the Near East see in this Turkish policy threats
of confrontation with Turkey and the Western community, primarily the
United States. It is justified because the Turkish policy does not
suppose passive and quiet detachment of the region but escalation with
the West not for economic purposes.
The creation of the "Ottoman Empire", even in a conditional format,
with the purpose of boosting Turkish influence on the world, obtaining
of a new global status requires its dominance over the countries of
the region in one form or another, and accordingly strengthening of
its position in the dialogue with the global "centers of power".
Despite being closer than ever, the relations between the United
States and France are tense over the aspect of accession of Turkey to
the European Union, and the dialogue between the two countries on the
"Turkish topic" is limited and obviously unfriendly.
Therefore, the dialogue is not substantial on either accession to the
EU or other issues relating to Turkey. There is no necessity to speak
about any U.S.-French agreements on this issue because there are no
such agreements. At present, the United States and France are having
consultations on the problems of the Near East, the Balkans and the
Caucasus, other regions, primarily Iran but consultations on Turkey
are quite limited.
France understands that it cannot fulfill objectives of strategic
planning on Turkey, Near East and other regions like the United
States. It does not have sufficient military political and economic
resources. Besides, to some extent, France has to take steps that are
alternatives to the U.S. moves in the Near East, protecting its
interests and, to some extent, European interests.
However, France is ready to support any initiative by the United
States that is aimed at Turkey's "containment" in different
directions. In any case, France does not anyhow contradict fulfillment
of U.S. objectives on Turkey. Such an arrangement may mean that there
is a tacit agreement between France and the United States on problems
relating to Turkish policy.
We think this is a justified arrangement, and for the time being it is
not worth looking for more substantive and obvious proof to existence
of such agreements.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32847#sthash.POip545C.dpuf
From: Baghdasarian