Cumhuriyet: The United States seeks to break up China and Turkey
The United States is actively expanding its presence in Transcaucasia and seek to reduce Russia's influence in this region, the author of the article for Cumhuriyet writes. It is for this purpose that Washington is working to create a new trade route, the opening of which will affect the interests of Moscow — and at the same time Beijing and Ankara.
Mehmet Ali Guller
For the United States, the main thing in international relations is where the money, pipelines, and corridors go. Issues like the protection of democracy, human rights, and transparency of the political process are not fundamental. These are the whips used to lead certain countries in the desired direction.
Why is the United States, for example, seeking an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Caucasus without consulting with Russia? Why did they threaten Georgia not to adopt the law on foreign agents? Why did the United States and the EU cool relations with Georgia after the adoption of this law?
We talked about this in our recent article titled "The U.S. Plan for the Black Sea and the Caucasus." The United States has invited Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to events dedicated to the NATO summit in Washington. A Pentagon representative will work at the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The United States is trying to open a southern front against Russia and wedge itself into the Turkey—Russia—Iran triangle. This is all? Let's explain.
What the US has offered Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Two months ago, U.S. Trade Representative Catherine Tai visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In her briefcase was a folder about an alternative "Middle Corridor". Tai proposed the creation of a new trade corridor that would connect Central Asia with Europe through the Caucasus and Turkey. In short, Washington suggested that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan "bypass" China and Russia.
The fact is that the United States has set itself a strategic goal: to cut off the "One Belt, One Road" initiative proposed by China from a number of regions. Recall that last year, to counter the Chinese initiative, the United States—sponsored India—Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor project was announced. The route from India to the United Arab Emirates by sea, from there to Israel by land via Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and then to Greece again by sea was shelved after the start of the Hamas operation "Flood of Al-Aqsa" on October 7 last year.
Now, the United States plans to create a Central Asia—Caucasus—Europe corridor, aimed in general against the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and in particular against the "Middle Corridor", which is important for the development of cooperation between Turkey and China.
China—Turkey—Georgia cooperation on the "Middle Corridor"
Last week, the U.S. Senate held a hearing on the topic "The future of Europe." James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, spoke about this plan in his speech. It was about the creation of a trade corridor that will originate in Central Asia, pass through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan and reach Europe.
Georgia was not mentioned in O'Brien's speech, but it was said that Baku and Yerevan had agreed on the demarcation of the border. If we compare with previous statements, we can clearly see that the United States is trying to replace Georgia with Armenia in this corridor.
So why is there no Georgia in this trade corridor? Why does the United States want to finance Georgian media and non-governmental organizations, but the Georgian government resists this by passing a law on foreign agents?
Because the current Georgian government is resisting US attempts to open a southern front against Russia, Washington's plans for the Black Sea, and even cooperates with China in the Black Sea. China is building the Anaklia seaport in Georgia as part of the current "Middle Corridor", with an investment volume of $ 600 million.
The same Fidan signal in China
Now let's touch on the dimension of the issue related to Turkey... As you remember, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited China in early June this year, where he gave certain signals that extremely alarmed the Turkish pro-Atlantic flank. So much so that even the media controlled by the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkey did not cover Fidan's statements and, on the contrary, were full of headlines accusing China.
One of the important messages voiced by the head of Turkish diplomacy was the following: "At this time, the One Belt, One Road initiative and the one proposed by us"The middle East—West corridor through the Caspian Sea“ has become even more important. We are striving to take concrete steps to harmonize the Middle Corridor with the Belt and Road Initiative and integrate it with some other transport corridors, such as the Development Path in Iraq" (06/04/2024).
In other words, the United States, using an alternative "Middle Corridor", at the same time seeks to undermine Turkish-Chinese cooperation.
In conclusion, I must remind you: the player that the United States used and nurtured in order to get deeper into Central Asia after the collapse of the USSR was the Gulen movement (a Turkish preacher accused by the Turkish authorities of creating and leading a terrorist organization and organizing an attempted coup in Turkey in 2016, — approx. InoSMI)!
