Well-dressed and proper Turkish imperialism

By Dimitris Sevastakis

As well-structured as Turkey's foreign and military policy may be, its approach to certain issues is naïve.

For example, allies view Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan negatively (with the false premise that this will decide their stance toward Greece).

Naturally, beyond viewing inter-state relations as emotional, Erdogan has an innate political ability to create crises and then to participate in resolving them and be rewarded.

A flexible virtuoso, he hastens to throw a punch when he knows the opponent will be unable to react.

Erdogan's relations with Moscow and his purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system (a sort of rebellion in the context of NATO) has become his ticket to re-establishing Turkey's relations with the Alliance.

Arms procurement infidelity is being used as a tool to ensure leniency in the West. His voters are repaid with nationalistic claptrap, with the aim of healing in this manner some of the economic wounds in the everyday life of Turkey's citizens.

Erdogan has not at all curbed his steadfast nationalist rhetoric, as the problem for the West is for Turkey not to break away, and not Turkey threatening those within the Western camp.

His relations with French President Emmanuel Macron are improving as regards Libya.

Hence, Greece is being deprived of a perimeter of allied or other factors that offer a sense of comfort and security.

We are returning to the actual nature and core of our relationship which is power.

Aside from expansive business penetration, Erdogan unveiled an electric car (Turkey has long had an automobile industry) and he presented a missile system that concerns naval forces in particular.

Turkey's drones are well-known as is the...