Nonetheless, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has compelled governments in the US and Europe to decide in some cases whether to permit significant lucrative transactions, contracted for by Western nuclear firms with Russian industry before the war began, to be completed.
Calls for a more robust European defense pillar are often strong in principle but weak in detail. At NATO’s headquarters, most would consider Turkey as integral. But on EU premises , there would be little appetite to include Ankara when conceptualizing the defense of Europe.
The deal would be a geopolitical game-changer.
Multiple crises have taken the international spotlight off Turkey. This, combined with Ankara’s contradictory foreign policy ambitions and rule-of-law deficiencies, limits the country’s global clout.
The postponement of Erdoğan’s Washington visit may be a missed opportunity, but the NATO Summit in July offers a chance to get back on track.
Moscow is pushing Ankara toward lasting antagonism with the rest of NATO by putting pressure on their economic and political ties. But the trend is not irreversible, and Turkey has proved it can adjust its policies to appease the West.
With the Turkish opposition’s stunning electoral upset on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party are finally reaping the consequences of ill-considered macroeconomic policies. But the real winner of these critical local elections may be Turkish democracy.
