Radio Bulgaria: The United States has spoiled relations with Erdogan. Russia is one of the reasonsThe question of who will become president of Turkey is important, as it may be related to the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict, the author of the article for Radio Bulgaria believes.
Now Turkey is moving away from NATO and getting closer to Russia. And this is not the only thing that Washington is not satisfied with.
Kalina AndrolovaOn May 14, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Turkey — they can change the architecture of international relations and the military atmosphere in the world.
Turkey can ensure stability in the Black Sea region or, conversely, allow an escalation of tensions and even help open new fronts against Russia in the post-Soviet space. The question of who will become president of Turkey is important — it may be related to the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict. Turkey is moving away from NATO and getting closer to Russia. According to the American media, Erdogan threatens the security of the Eastern Mediterranean with his claims to gas production, and strikes against the Syrian Kurds threaten the stability of Syria. This is only part of the reasons why the United States has soured its relations with Erdogan. The truth is that the United States controls oil fields in Syrian Kurdistan, using military groups of Syrian Kurds. Accordingly, Erdogan is trying to oust the Americans from this area and subordinate it to Turkey's economic interests by attacking the Kurds on the grounds that they pose a threat to the country's national security. But actually, it's all about oil.
For the upcoming elections in Turkey, the United States uses the same technologies as for Bulgaria. The coalition against Erdogan consists of parties that have nothing in common with each other except the desire to overthrow Erdogan. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's main opponent, is the leader of the center—left Republican People's Party, founded by Ataturk. It is the second largest party in parliament, having won the mayoral seats of Istanbul and Ankara in 2019. Ekrem Imamoglu and Mansur Yavash, the mayors of Istanbul and Ankara, have more chances than Kilicdaroglu to defeat Erdogan, but if any of the Kemalists leave office, it will give Erdogan's party a chance to get the mayor's seat again. Thus, after long negotiations, 74-year-old economist Kilicdaroglu was nominated from a total of six opposition parties, including right-wing and nationalist, including the party of Ahmet Davutoglu. The slogans are directed against Erdogan's authoritarian excesses, for the restoration of the independence of justice and the fight against mass corruption. "The front organized against Erdogan should convey the message that this is the opposition to change, promising a new future to the young Turkish generation who knows only Erdogan," the American designers dictated. Does that sound familiar? One might think that they are talking about the party "We Continue Changes" and Boyko Borisov. Erdogan, according to the American media, found himself in a situation of political survival — if he does not become president, he will probably be forced to answer to the court for his numerous abuses of power. Unlike the Bulgarian political elite, under Erdogan, these threats do not yield results. The third political force in Turkey, the pro—Kurdish People's Democratic Party, refused to nominate its candidate and supported Kilicdaroglu. The party is accused of separatism and on May 12 the Constitutional Court will decide whether to ban it.
Turkey is important to the United States because of its influence in the post-Soviet space, because it has the ability to operate in the Balkans, and because it is an Islamic state, i.e. a possible operational military ally in the Islamic world. In this sense, Turkey is a unique and irreplaceable factor. The meeting of the US ambassador to Turkey with Kilicdaroglu as a sign of support infuriated Erdogan, and he urged voters to teach Americans a lesson in these elections. Kilicdaroglu, an Alevite, issued a statement in which he deprived Erdogan of the opportunity to hint that his rival is not a true Muslim. The Alevites are a Shiite sect with an unstructured interpretation of Islam, without religious dogma. Alevites do not attend mosques and madrassas, do not observe Ramadan and drink alcohol. Sometimes they are persecuted by right-wing Sunni activists. It is unclear how much this recognition of Kilicdaroglu will help or hinder his campaign.
Erdogan's pre-election PR demonstrates that Turkey is already producing its own gas, producing its first electric car and that Turkey has its own nuclear power plant. Erdogan staged a pompous performance on the delivery of nuclear fuel, which was attended by the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, who was impressed by the Akkuyu NPP. Vladimir Putin was also virtually present at the opening of Akkuyu, who addressed Erdogan as a "dear friend" — Erdogan, in turn, stressed that he hopes to see him live in the near future. Turkey intends to become a source of raw materials for Southeastern Europe. Turkish BOTAS and Azerbaijani SOCAR have created a new company to sell gas in Europe. Europe is aware that it is no longer possible to extract gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz-2 field, but, unlike the United States, after the gas crisis, it has become supportive of the organization of a gas hub in Turkey, especially since Turkey has many sources - Algeria, Qatar, Azerbaijan, American LNG and production from its own field. This diversity is an ideal cover for the rebranding of Russian gas. It should be noted that Turkey has excellent relations with the British, who are well represented in Azerbaijan — which means that the new scheme in South-Eastern Europe is quite real.