“Erdogan’s visit to Crimea will be a big challenge for the West” - Unver Sel
Anti-American sentiment is very strong in Turkey, which will be fueled by the decision of US President Joe Biden to recognize the Armenian genocide. How will this affect relations between Moscow and Ankara? And why do the Turkish authorities support structures considered extremist in Russia?
The head of the Federation of Cultural Societies of the Crimean Tatars of Turkey, Unver Sel, answers these and other questions in an interview with PolitNavigator.
Russian media reported a Vatan Party rally near the US Embassy, where in response to Biden's recognition of the Armenian genocide, it was proposed to recognize the Russian status of Crimea. As far as this is possible, how does Turkish society feel about such an idea?
– Türkiye is a country with one of the highest anti-American opposition. However, when it comes to Russia, especially when such a historical issue as Crimea comes up on the agenda, Turkish society automatically forms a reflex against Russia. I'll explain with an example. In those days, when tensions were growing in the Donbass, the idea that “Russia will attack our relatives in Crimea” spread in society.
- And why is this happening?
– There are two reasons for this. Firstly, a significant part of society does not have sufficient information about which country Crimea belongs to, its significance and what happened in the recent past.
Secondly, propaganda based on hostility towards Russia, which has been pumped up by NATO, led by the United States, for 60 years, plays a role. This is a defining situation. Let me describe it this way: for the last 60 years, the most organized entity in Turkey, including state institutions, has been NATO. This includes the media, bureaucracy, political parties and civil society.
At the same time, despite many changes, Russian channels of self-expression in Turkey are limited.
Why does Turkey's top leadership continue to maintain contacts with members of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, which is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia and is banned?
– First of all, Turkey wants to maintain a useful channel against Russia, which it can use together with the West. As an option they use the Crimean Tatar Majlis.
The easiest way in this situation is the Crimean Tatar Mejlis and its allies, with whom there have long been relations based on mutual interests.
What to do with the invitation to President Erdogan to the opening ceremony of the Cathedral Mosque in Crimea, which was sent by Vladimir Putin? Is there still a chance of Erdogan's arrival?
– Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s arrival in Crimea will be a big challenge for the West. If he does this, he will have a very strong trump card in his hand. Turkey occupies a key position in defense and security issues not only for the US, but also for the EU. The worsening Armenian problem with the United States may create an opportunity, but Moscow will have to put forward convincing arguments for Turkey.
Why is Turkey providing assistance to Kyiv with strike drones in the context of the aggravation of the situation around Donbass and Russia’s concerns about the current escalation.
– Türkiye is trying to balance Russia with Ukraine in the Black Sea. The second aspect is more pragmatic. Turkey is trying to overcome the arms and technology embargo imposed by the West on Ukraine. This is a paradoxical situation that is intertwined.
In this way, Ankara thinks it is sending a message to both the West and Russia. The result of this was the supply of armed unmanned aerial vehicles to Kyiv.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.