Turkey has started changing its foreign policy, especially since 2008, when Gül left the State Department to go up to Çankaya to be president and Ahmet Davutoğlu took his place.
In this approach designed by Davutoğlu and approved by the prime minister, Ankara has broken its shells and changed its past rigid approaches. With the new approach, called the “Zero Problems” policy, Turkey has adapted a much more active role in regional issues.
It is no longer the country that used to do whatever its older brothers told it to do, avoided getting into complicated issues, thought only of itself and isolated itself.
The new policy has character and principles of its own; is extremely active and bold; breaks taboos and acts outside of the usual has began.
Just like every change, Davutoğlu’s approach gained appraisal from both domestic and some foreign opinion. After many long years, Turkey was stepping onto the stage for the first time and making itself heard. These new policies served to bring large investments to Turkey and new employment fields for Turkish businessmen, especially from the Middle East and Central Asia.
Of course, not everything was good. The absence of a general strategy and a day-by-day attitude was observed and harshly criticized. The new policy was not “Islamic.” It could not be dubbed “a shift of axis.”
But then Washington was angered. First, there was a quarrel with Israel. The poorly administered Mavi Marmara incident that ended as an unnecessary disastrous accident happened. …
Subsequently, Turkey took Tehran’s side, who is in the position of being the worst enemy of the U.S. and Israel, in a project that could result in Iran becoming a nuclear power. …
From that moment on, Turkish–U.S. relations began to deteriorate.
From that moment on, the AK Party administration began being slandered, and the Islamist and axis-shifting accusations began to be spread.
One cannot stay in a leadership position while fighting with Washington.
This attitude of Turkey flattered the Arab streets. Posters of Erdoğan and screams of Turkey spread all through the Islamic world, yet the capitals of the same countries began watching Washington.
In summary, there is an imbalance.
Even though our policies today are correct in general approach, we have important problems in implementation and our statements.
If the situation is not fixed soon, there will be a bill for the AK Party and Turkey.
Those who make our policies in Ankara should know that it is not possible to become a leader in the region whilst fighting with the U.S. and Israel.
If the prime minister and secretary of state can see this reality, adjust their statements and be more careful in their general approach, Turkey can maintain its current route.
If not, as a nation we must accustom ourselves to an accident in international relations or an emergency landing.
The bills are being prepared. …
As a super power, the U.S. has incredible means. It has tools that it could use both itself and to influence other countries and markets.
Turkey is completely dependent on the U.S. to provide for its military needs.
The markets look to the U.S. Either no one invests in countries that do not have good relations with Washington, or they are not given any money, or very high interest rates are imposed.
No matter what issue you want to advance a step in, if you do not have the U.S. on your side, you cannot be successful.
Battling the PKK would be significantly more difficult and bloody without the U.S. It is near impossible to take a step in the United Nations without Washington. In relations with the European Union, it is harder for a country to have its voice heard if it is clashing with the U.S.
Washington is no longer overthrowing administrations. Without even raising its voice, while appearing as if relations are normal, it can tighten the screws so much that you cannot fix any of your problems.
Let me mention a few of the issues Turkey may have to face — provided that conditions remain the same:
– Turkey’s role in mediating the Palestine problem is completely annulled.
– As long as Turkey does not change its approach to Israel, it is not realistic to expect any big arms deals with Turkey to pass through Congress.
– In current conditions, the alleged Armenian genocide legislation is likely to pass in due course, and Turkey will be accused of genocide.
– It has been stated that the additional support Turkey is asking for regarding fighting the PKK and solving the Kurdish problem will not even receive a response.
– It is expected that the application supported by 300 House Representatives to declare the IHH a terrorist organization will be put on the agenda and accepted.
– The Israeli and Jewish lobby is preparing to argue against oil pipes that were planned to run through Turkey. Israel is signing all the deals it used to have with Turkey with Greece instead, whom they have historically had distant relations with.
I can go on with this list for much longer.
Not for naught, Turkey is being protected by its location and economic power.
I have also observed another point in my contacts in Washington.
The United States needs Turkey in order to effectively implement its regional policies.
Israel also needs Turkey. If nothing else, it does not wish to face a hostile Turkey.
The Turkish economy is bringing such high earnings that the entrance of funds cannot be stopped. The country’s economic power and location also increases its bargaining ability.
All these factors are preventing Turkey from being billed completely in a short amount of time. However, when it comes down to it, it should not be forgotten that Turkey needs the U.S. more. Ankara’s weakest point is the fragility of its economy and politics. You can never know what is going to happen or when.
For now, Washington is waiting.
It will observe and make a decision based on whether Ankara will adjust its policies or not, the results of the upcoming elections and whether there will be a difference in policy.
Considering all this, 2011 will be a very important year.
The story has a pragmatic anylitical reporting. However, there is nothing yo worry about America and Israel. Both are in for big trouble of their own making and both needs friends to show them their fault lines and to be of most sincere help in fixing their problems. Israel is derailed right from its birth. Israel’s founding father thought it preferable to switch loyalty from God to a symbolic “Rock of Israel at the swearing in ceremony. That falls in a serious blasphemy. In his words: “God did not do enough to deserve this credit”, he said. Agains, he is reported to have said: ““If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti – Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault ? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?” This here that real diplomacy can make the negative into positive. Turkey had recued Jews from oppression of Ferdinand in Spain by sending ships to bring them to urkey with a wecome mat spread to them. Turkey might rescue the peaceniks among them from an impending harm hovering Israel from the heavens for Ben-Gurion’s iniquity and Netanyahu’s stubborn defiance of world opinion as well as blatant desecrations in the sacred Jerusalem. That mush is for Israel. Now let us take America. Nobody would shed a tear if America might be dragged in the scourge from the heavens on Israel. Jews know God’s wrath. Jewish history abounds with misfortunes sytretching over four thousand years. America had never had the distinction of standing on moral high ground. One only reads the the story of the Puritons who had come to the “New World” and had made treaties with the natives ceding them their lands as independent sovereign territories. America might be put to shame on this count alone on having blatantly exploited the American Indians. There is a petition filed against America in the judiciary and the judiciary was told that no records exist of American use of the natines territories. America too needs friends to be of sincere help in rescuing them from the lethal harm hovering over it for their full part in the tragedy of Palestinians. On the other hand, the Arabs and the other Muslim communities needs leadership for their transition from obscurity into the modern world that is run by democracy played by its rules. So, where does one find a better people than the Turks?