Pak Sahafat – Guardian newspaper wrote: While the Western capitals did not comment much on the Turkish presidential election, they hoped behind the scenes that the 20-year and unpredictable period of the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan would experience a sudden end. But now his election for the third term as president of Turkey has caught the West in a dilemma of fear and hope.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency’s report, the article of this English media said in this regard: Westerners are afraid that the elected president of Turkey will take advantage of the election results to further distance this country from the liberal secular West as one of the first members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
On the other hand, they hope that his inability to participate in the upcoming presidential elections of Turkey and, as a result, Erdogan’s lack of nationalist votes in this country, will free him from the concern of protecting his personal interests, at least in the field of foreign policy.
On the other hand, ErdoÄŸan’s re-election is a kind of blessing for the West. His plan to reduce tensions between Turkey’s neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt and Armenia, is of interest to the West.
In any case, the next elections of the elected president of Turkey are important not only for this country and NATO, but for any order that is formed at the end of the war in Ukraine.
Sweden’s membership in NATO
According to this report, Erdogan’s first test will be at the upcoming meeting of NATO members, where he will be asked to change his veto vote on Sweden joining the alliance. He already lifted his ban on Finland’s membership, but it still leaves Sweden in an undecided position.
After the start of the war in Ukraine, Kyiv demanded membership in the European Union and NATO. Finland and Sweden also applied for NATO membership after this war.
The European Union and NATO expect Turkey to finally agree to Sweden’s accession to the alliance after the election. Erdogan probably prevented this membership before the election for political reasons.
The entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO was confirmed almost a year ago. Erdogan withdrew Finland’s veto in April. In July, he is expected to express his approval for Sweden’s membership.
Sweden is also strengthening its anti-terrorist laws in order to gain Ankara’s attention. In this regard, the lawmakers of the Swedish parliament approved a law last month that tightens the country’s anti-terrorism laws; the move is expected to help convince Turkey to approve the Nordic country’s application to join NATO.
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Increase in resignations in Erdogan’s opposition parties after defeat in the elections
Close relations with Russia
The Guardian states: Currently, the urgent problem of the West is to prevent the closer relations between the elected president of Turkey and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
In this regard, few Western politicians express optimism. One of these diplomats, whose name was not mentioned, told the Guardian that Erdogan’s opposition to Western values ​​has become more serious over time.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also said during the recent election campaign that anyone who shows pro-Western tendencies is a traitor.
According to the author of this report, although this comment of the Turkish Interior Minister was only a propaganda slogan, it reflects this type of thinking in Turkey.
Erdogan said in his election campaign: Turkey and Russia have special relations. Referring to his personal relationship with Putin, he noted that these relationships put him in a good position to mediate on the war in Ukraine.
The elected president of Turkey also launched the country’s first nuclear power plant in April, which was built with the financial support and technology of Russia.
In the meantime, another worrying point for the heads of the Western countries is the recent negotiations between Moscow and Ankara regarding Turkey becoming a European hub for the transfer of Russian gas.
American officials, therefore, have a more difficult task when they travel to Ankara to persuade Erdogan to crack down on Turkish businesses that have become a way around Russian sanctions.
This report adds: Turkey is simply not willing to impose sanctions against Russia, on the other hand, Washington is not willing to do so, fearing that Ankara’s sanctions will strengthen the relations between Erdogan and Putin.
Turkey’s presidential term is five years, and according to the constitutional amendment that was approved in 2017, the president is the highest executive officer and the head of government and has full authority in choosing ministers and government officials.