Must Turkey Choose Between Russia And The West?
Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by Jenny White
In her article, “Will Turkey Abandon NATO?” in the Wall Street Journal, Zeyno Baran of the Hudson Institute argues, yes, Turkey must choose:
Will Turkey side with the United States, its NATO ally, and let more U.S. military ships into the Black Sea to assist Georgia? Or will it choose Russia?
A Turkish refusal would seriously impair American efforts to support the beleaguered Caucasus republic. Ever since Turkey joined NATO in 1952, it has hoped to never have to make a choice between the alliance and its Russian neighbor to the North. Yet that is precisely the decision before Ankara. If Turkey does not allow the ships through, it will essentially be taking Russia’s side.
What do you think Jenny?
I think Turkey should continue to tread lightly, balancing its obligations. It has too much at stake economically to face off Russia as a proxy of the West. It’s a good idea for everyone — EU as well as Turkey — to diversify their energy sources, though, so if down the road, they do need to make a stand against Russia, they won’t be so dependent on it.
I agree. Turkey’s NATO membership does not absolve Montreux after all. And, I wonder, how justified, how necessary it is for US warships to be doing the assisting. From most reports, I gather, Russians spared civilian infrastructure and BTC facilities.
There is a certain streak of punditry here in the US, and it is projecting undue/premature vehemence on Turkey’s shoulders re: this matter. I would dare say that this matter hadn’t been received that vehemently here (maybe due to heavy focus first on the olympiad then on the upcoming election, but…)