Why is Erdogan talking about the EU?

There is one more topic that will have a decisive impact on Ukraine: unblocking Sweden's accession. Of course, this is due to the strengthening of NATO's northern flank. But even more so because of the game of Turkish President Erdogan. Obviously, this is not just about unblocking the supply of F-16s to Turkey by the United States. In the future, the presence of these aircraft in our country and Turkey, with the ability to modernize them, will make NATO's control over the Black Sea much more effective.

"But it is no coincidence that Erdogan began talking about resuming accession talks with the EU as a kind of compensation for Sweden's agreement to join NATO."

The EU cannot imagine the accession of Turkey, a large Muslim country. At least today. Erdogan is well aware of this and wants to receive special, literally "privileged" treatment from the EU and become a unique country that belongs to both the West and non-West.

"Just as he is now trying to become a unique mediator between the West and the Putin regime."

We have to not just get used to Turkey, which, both pragmatically and strategically, will not choose between Russia and the West or, for example, China and the West. We must learn to use this when it is beneficial to us and to influence it when it strengthens Russia. Moreover, Turkey's pressure on the EU will trigger a new wave of discussions about what Europe is and is not. And we must use this discussion to accelerate our joining the EU. It is difficult and dangerous to be both the vanguard and the frontline of Europe, but Europe is interested in this. This chance should not be wasted.

Source

About the author. Pavlo Klimkin, diplomat, former Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister. 

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.