Erdogan did sign the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO, thus confirming that Turkey is choosing the West, hard as it is. And it does not mind that NATO's infrastructure will continue to move closer to Russia's borders...
Erdogan's signature is not a procedural step, but a strategic choice.
This choice makes the situation in the Middle East somewhat more manageable. Despite Erdogan's declaration regarding the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and his conversation with the leader of Hamas, it is unlikely that Erdogan will directly challenge the West. This reduces the risk of a NATO split over the Israel conflict, which could have been a worst-case scenario.
Obviously, Erdogan will continue to maneuver in the Middle East, performing various mediation functions and delaying the time when he will have to make a strategic choice again.
About the author. Serhiy Taran, political scientist.
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