In recent years we have witnessed a systematic differentiation of Turkey from US-NATO positions on serious international issues, with Erdogan following his own course, which in many cases is not only different but also diametrically opposed to that of his supposed Western allies, aligning himself with their enemies such as Russia and Iran.
Turkish "antics" towards the US-NATO
What is there to remember about the "Turkish antics"?
The issue of the Kurdish YPG allies of the US, whom Turkey has tried to annihilate militarily many times by dubbing them terrorists , while they fought against the real ISIS terrorists, with the latter being armed by Erdogan by smuggling oil with them, or the Astana agreements on the post-war status of Syria, co-opting Iran and Russia, excluding the US-EU from the discussions?
Or on the issue of Russia buying the S-400 and not sanctioning Turkey for invading Ukraine, as all other NATO countries did?
On the other hand, we had the difficulties and Turkey's bargaining for Finland's entry into NATO and Sweden is even now "on hold" in order for the Turkish Parliament to vote in favour of its accession, which Erdogan is pushing and delaying?
It is also known that in 2020 Erdogan brought NATO in its SE wing to the brink of disintegration through his own fault and in the midst of the war in Ukraine, bringing the situation with our country to the brink, one step literally before war, while with regard to Cyprus and the South-Eastern Mediterranean, it has gone to extremes, with arbitrary gas exploration in part of the Cyprus EEZ, proposing as the only solution the creation of two states on the island in violation of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, which it also disputes.
The icing on the cake was put on the cake on the occasion of the Israel-Hamas war, where Turkey fully revealed its anti-Western face by praising and giving shelter to the terrorist organisation, which it describes as 'liberationist' and the State of Israel and its Prime Minister as 'terrorists'.
As if all this were not enough, we have recently had the Turkish Naval Chief of Staff declare that 'We do not want America and NATO in the Black Sea'.
Meaningful statement on the Black Sea by the US Secretary of State
The US response to the new Turkish slip-up was paid off, with its Under Secretary of State (DFA) declaring a few days after the words of the Turkish Naval Chief of Staff, from Bulgaria, who visited saying: "We are ready to fight for the values of the Black Sea region."
The issue was reported by Turkish media pointing out:
"The Bulgarian port city of Varna was visited yesterday by Secretary of State Liz Allen.
Allen, who went to the port of Varna and took a video on the Black Sea coast, explained the importance of the region for NATO. Allen's message was posted on the official X account of the US State Department, where the US diplomat used the following statements in her message:
"Hello, this is Liz Allen, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, here in the port of Varna, Bulgaria, with a really important message. We are in favor of a secure, prosperous and interconnected Black Sea region. These values are more important than ever, especially in view of Russia's aggression in Ukraine and its coercive actions in the region.
The Black Sea is of critical importance to our NATO allies in the region, including Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
But it is also critical to the free flow of goods and food that the rest of the world needs. Our connection with the Black Sea region is based on very deep roots such as culture, values, economy, education and professional connections.
"We are ready to fight for the values of an open, secure, prosperous and interconnected Black Sea region."
A paid response to the Turkish Naval Chief of Staff
This message from Allen was interpreted as a response to the assessments made by the Commander of the Turkish Navy, Admiral Erzumed Tatlioğlu, regarding the Black Sea a few days ago.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Professional Naval Petty Officers' School on 17 November to mark the 133rd anniversary of the establishment of the Naval Petty Officers' Schools, Tatlioglou made the following statements:
"As you know, NATO is trying to take some measures in the Black Sea. However, we declare that we will take these measures on our own in the Black Sea and we declare that we do not want NATO or America in it. Our aim is to comply with Montreux. As Turkey, we ensure all security in the Black Sea. They must not turn the Black Sea into the Middle East. We do not want any country or NATO to enter it."
Erdogan's ambitions in the Black Sea
What is Erdogan really getting at with the Black Sea, by having his rabbit, Turkish A/NG, make the above unacceptable statements against the US-NATO?
Our assessment is that Erdogan is looking forward to sharing the Black Sea with his friend Putin after the end of the war in Ukraine, by satelliteing Romania-Bulgaria-Ukraine, which have negligible navies compared to those of Russia and Turkey.
The Turkish President wants the Black Sea to become the Turkish "mare nostrum", using it as a lever to pressure the US-NATO to serve its own purposes, excluding them from any activity in it.
Indicative of how Turkey sees its position in NATO vis-à-vis Russia is the arrangement of the Turkish navy and its many bases in the Aegean-NE Mediterranean compared to almost none in the Black Sea.
Really shouldn't the Turkish Marine Brigade, the landing fleet and the Turkish 4th Army be oriented towards the Black Sea, since the threat to NATO Turkey comes from Russia, instead of the Aegean where its NATO ally Greece is located?
