Erdogan's Reelection Is a Stark Warning for the U.S.: The Hill

The reelection of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan serves as a stark warning to the U.S. and its NATO allies to tread carefully with Turkey, which is undoubtedly wavering between allegiance to Moscow and support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. This is stated in an article by The Hill.

It notes that Erdogan is likely to build his reputation as a strongman while maintaining a nearly neutral stance between Russia and the West.

The analysis suggests that Americans should be cautious when trying to charm Erdogan and avoid overly critical remarks about his authoritarian tendencies, while also showing respect for his desire to carve out a middle ground amidst the tumultuous political, diplomatic, and military currents.

U.S. relations with Turkey have become considerably complicated with the presence of around 5,000 American troops, U.S. aircraft, and even 50 nuclear bombs in Turkish bases.

Erdogan adeptly plays the non-alignment game between Washington and Moscow while staying warm with President Joe Biden. Both Putin and Biden have cautiously congratulated him on his victory.

Erdogan is expected to now endorse Sweden's NATO membership.

The article also highlights Turkey's crucial geographical position; it controls the entrance to the Black Sea and manages the ships moving to Ukraine’s ports, including Crimea that is occupied by Russia.

It emphasizes that the Russia-Ukraine war has evidently complicated Washington's ability to shift its policy toward Turkey. Now that Erdogan is confident in his power, it would be a mistake for Washington to adopt an adversarial approach toward a long-time ally who can still be of assistance. The fact that American nuclear warheads are still stored within Turkey underscores the importance of the relationship.