69 million page views

Continuing the PM Erdoğan Enigma - What is on His Mind

Reader comment on item: Do NATO and Turkey Have a Future Together?
in response to reader comment: So Glad To Read This

Submitted by M Tovey (United States), Sep 7, 2022 at 17:35

Extrapolations abound: just what is Turkiye's posture as the gateway between the wavering West and the undulating wrangling of contraveing Islamic influences in the Middle East and farther east yet? What really does PM Erdoğan think is going to enhance Turkiye's position in the Middle East as he coyly plays both sides to the middle and looks to bolster his self-perceived political value in mediating Islamic intentions versus Western aprehensions while the Russian is on his own self-perceived mission to be the replacement power government of the eastern hemisphere and playing hard-to-understand games to keep the West guessing.
Part of the quasi-historical aspects of the former Soviet dominance in the region has been revealed by the Russian's assertions of revamped Russian prominance in global politicking; and that every other despotic partner in the semi-regional alliances now being negotiated are leveraged merely by agreeing they all hate the same thing in their own way. China is involved as well as the Iranian Islamic Regime, but the CCP appear to be watching for their own oppotrtunity; Taiwan is their focus, not the Middle East, yet; though Africa and the Solomon Islands seem to be a place of anchorage for future use.
So, the Middle East is in Turkish focus; Israel is, in the practical course of things Middle East, in the way of those Turkish ambitions. What remains to be seen is what is going to be the trigger? Maybe, Israel's continued intersections against anti-Israeli activities (Israel stating to the US and the world at large they will not be bound in defensive posturing); PM Erdoğan might take his thinking to the next step and decide Israel is a greater threat only he can deal with, all others appearing reticent to do so. What will that take: anyone?

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

Reader comments (24) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Do NATO and Turkey have a Future together? [101 words]Joan RibiJan 18, 2023 21:59291229
1Re NATO and Turkey [38 words]PrashantJan 19, 2023 12:18291229
Will HRW's racist Omar Shakir protest "apartheid" wall in Europe? [27 words]HannahSep 29, 2022 12:27286945
Observing Erosion of Secularist Socialist Underlying Argument for Preservation of Ethnic Diversity - Israel Defies the Logic [341 words]M ToveySep 29, 2022 19:28286945
1Global Alliance of Democracies (GLAD) [332 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RobertSep 27, 2022 15:50286886
Turkey does not deter, not collegial [144 words]mythSep 8, 2022 12:50286136
6The real role of Turkey and an asset [485 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
R.A. DekkerSep 6, 2022 15:33286058
1Questioning Motives Regarding Keeping Close to Turkiye is Necessary Evil to Prevent Surprises [211 words]M ToveySep 9, 2022 17:52286058
Cage Match for Political Superiority - Sweden versus Turkey - Unlikely Foes Unless One Observes the Russian Influences [161 words]M ToveyOct 25, 2022 11:28286058
Revisiting Turkiye's Potentially Contentious Collaborations in a Middle East No One Seems to Find Where the Middle Ground Lays - Who WIll Dominate [299 words]M ToveyNov 1, 2022 11:24286058
No Thanksgiving for Turkiye in the Middle East - A Differing Contemplation Awaits a Middle East that Does Not Know Peace [369 words]M ToveyNov 22, 2022 15:55286058
Re "democracies" [116 words]EvomhSep 6, 2022 01:06286024
Turkey marginally useful [288 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MalcolmSep 5, 2022 09:32285992
extending worldwide an advantage [206 words]mythSep 10, 2022 08:25285992
2Turkey as a valued Allie [134 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Warren WeaverSep 5, 2022 07:23285987
2What a biased interview, I can't believe my eyes. [332 words]HGESep 5, 2022 07:19285986
My humble reply to HGE [78 words]PrashantSep 6, 2022 10:42285986
1My humble reply to Prashant [149 words]HGESep 9, 2022 07:00285986
1Explaining my stance to HGE [179 words]PrashantSep 13, 2022 05:01285986
Cautionary Tale of Turkish Dominance as Perceived in this Forum Not One to Be Taken Lightly [172 words]M ToveySep 4, 2022 21:38285965
4NATO responds to threats, Erdogan creates them [285 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
DaveSep 4, 2022 20:25285964
3Opinion [455 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Admiral Peter KikareasSep 4, 2022 17:11285958
2So Glad To Read This [36 words]Gary SackSep 4, 2022 14:29285948
Continuing the PM Erdoğan Enigma - What is on His Mind [296 words]M ToveySep 7, 2022 17:35285948

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)