Continuing the PM Erdoğan Enigma - What is on His Mind

Submitted by M Tovey (United States), Sep 7, 2022 at 17:35

Extrapolations abound: just what is Turkiye's posture as the gateway between the wavering West and the undulating wrangling of contraveing Islamic influences in the Middle East and farther east yet? What really does PM Erdoğan think is going to enhance Turkiye's position in the Middle East as he coyly plays both sides to the middle and looks to bolster his self-perceived political value in mediating Islamic intentions versus Western aprehensions while the Russian is on his own self-perceived mission to be the replacement power government of the eastern hemisphere and playing hard-to-understand games to keep the West guessing.
Part of the quasi-historical aspects of the former Soviet dominance in the region has been revealed by the Russian's assertions of revamped Russian prominance in global politicking; and that every other despotic partner in the semi-regional alliances now being negotiated are leveraged merely by agreeing they all hate the same thing in their own way. China is involved as well as the Iranian Islamic Regime, but the CCP appear to be watching for their own oppotrtunity; Taiwan is their focus, not the Middle East, yet; though Africa and the Solomon Islands seem to be a place of anchorage for future use.
So, the Middle East is in Turkish focus; Israel is, in the practical course of things Middle East, in the way of those Turkish ambitions. What remains to be seen is what is going to be the trigger? Maybe, Israel's continued intersections against anti-Israeli activities (Israel stating to the US and the world at large they will not be bound in defensive posturing); PM Erdoğan might take his thinking to the next step and decide Israel is a greater threat only he can deal with, all others appearing reticent to do so. What will that take: anyone?

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