Could Russia Play Turkey Off Against the West?

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Series Details 03.08.16
Publication Date 03/08/2016
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In the wake of the failed putsch in Turkey on 15 July 2016 and the ensuing perplexities in Western military circles, questions have been asked about Ankara’s reliability in NATO and in the coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State. The author asks the question: Will Russia’s long game of undermining the EU’s cohesion, the U.S. status as the major superpower, or the role of NATO find fertile ground in post-coup Turkey? One hypothesis is that Russia may go for a long-term game-changing move and lure Turkey away from the West as part of a broader geopolitical reconfiguration.

In Turkey, the state and the people are in shock, the army is being reorganized, and a wide-ranging purge is ongoing. Anti-Western sentiments are on the rise among a number of politicians and a large segment of the population. There is unease at the thought that Western powers are evaluating the coup’s potential damage to NATO’s second-largest conventional army, the possible consequences for the defense of Europe, and the implications for operations of the anti–Islamic State coalition.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64235
Related Links
ESO: Background Information: The amazing speed of Turkey’s foreign policy U-turn http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-amazing-speed-of-turkeys-foreign-policy-u-turn/
ESO: Background information: Turkey apologises for downing Russian jet, hopes to improve relations http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-apologises-for-downing-russian-jet-hopes-to-improve-relations/
ESO: Background information: With friends like these: Turkey, Russia, and the end of an unlikely alliance http://www.europeansources.info/record/with-friends-like-these-turkey-russia-and-the-end-of-an-unlikely-alliance/
ESO: Background information: Erdogan starts dispute over migrant deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/erdogan-starts-dispute-over-migrant-deal/
Hürriyet Daily News, 02.08.16: Turkey, Europe in fresh migrant deal, visa row http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-europe-in-fresh-migrant-deal-visa-row.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102406&NewsCatID=351
Deutsche Welle, 02.06.16: NATO and Turkey: Allies, not friends http://dw.com/p/1JaWt
Chatham House: Research Paper, August 2016: Transatlantic Rifts: Averting a Turkey/Russia Conflict https://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/transatlantic-rifts-averting-turkey-russia-conflict
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 30.08.16: Russia, Turkey, and a Multipolar World http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64421

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