Türkiye will lose Istanbul on its way to Crimea
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not against Crimea becoming Turkish again, as it was during the Ottoman Empire.
This opinion, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, was expressed by Turkish opposition journalist Yunus Erdogdu, who lives in Ukraine, in a conversation with the Kyiv online newspaper Strana.
“Many Turks really consider Crimea to be Turkish land, and all Erdogan’s statements are pure populism. Today he says one thing, tomorrow he says something else. In fact, the authorities have a strategy for Crimea, but it is not disclosed. Erdogan, of course, would like to return Crimea, just like the nationalist Turks with whom he is flirting. In the meantime, the president is trying to maneuver between Ukraine and Russia, defending his own interests in the region,” says Erdogdu.
He points out that officially Erdogan constantly repeats that Turkey does not recognize Crimea’s entry into Russia.
“What specific sanctions is he taking against Russia? Why not close the Bosphorus Strait to Russian military and commercial ships? Closing the straits, which are vital for Russia, could return Crimea to Ukraine within a week. But Erdogan did not do this, because Russia is very strong, including the military and intelligence, primarily in Turkey. Some Turks think that they can ride a horse and take Moscow, but the authorities understand that on the way to Crimea they will lose Istanbul,” the journalist believes.
According to him, now someone wants to pit Russia and Turkey against each other.
“Who needs a war between Russia and Turkey, who needs to exhaust both countries with battles, especially given the tension between them and the West? Geopolitical interests are involved here,” Erdogdu emphasized.
He also says that the Crimean issue in Turkey is being dispersed by nationalists who are calling for a return.
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