A warning to Washington from a troubled region
Everyone seems to agree that Turkey-U.S. relations are going through a rough patch. Throughout history, there had been ups and downs in bilateral relations. However, the problems between Ankara and Washington at a time of global uncertainty and deepening regional conflicts are indicative of a different kind of structural crisis.
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Heavy price of saving the day in the Middle East
We need to see that a big, malevolent game is being played. Of course, regional countries' faulty strategies, steps to save the day and especially elites' efforts to gain ground in domestic politics catalyze foreign powers' manipulations and interventions. However, it is indisputable that the region is currently facing a new policy of disintegration plotted by foreign powers.
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In retrospect, this neo-medieval order did not emerge by happenstance or as a result of sporadic developments, but as a result of a deliberate, flexible and long-term regional transformation strategy conducted by the U.S. and its interlocutors.
The crown prince's grip on power, which has received the blessing of the United States, Israel and the Gulf, has been accompanied by powerful rhetoric of reform, a new vision, development and fighting corruption.
The growing rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which recently caused Lebanese PM Hariri to resign, will soon impact others in the region, too
In particular, the successive U.S. administrations made it clear that their quest to promote "moderate Islam" was ingenuine at four points:
SETA General Coordinator Professor Duran: I don't believe Meral Akşener is the Candidate who could replace Erdoğan
Despite the push to present Meral Akşener, the chairwoman of the newly established İYİ Party, as an alternative candidate against President Erdoğan in the run up to the 2019 presidential elections, Professor Duran thinks this will not translate into results, as a true candidate for the opposition parties is yet to be identified
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(Dis)advantages of the Iran Nuclear Deal for the US
Decision by the U.S. administration and Congress will have a variety of ramifications for politics in the Middle East and U.S. relations with its partners in the nuclear deal. Remember that actions of the U.S. administration will be judged with U.S. actions and inactions that have taken place in recent years in the Middle East.
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The reappearance of discourse on ‘moderate Islam', possibly with on the U.S. administration's request, cannot be a solution in the fight against extremism
The U.S. identified a new priority: The containment of Iran. Having secured the support of Israel and several Gulf countries, the U.S. president recently unveiled a new, strongly-worded Iran strategy. And he refused to certify the Iran nuclear deal to compel Congress to take action.
Trump's new strategy on Iran and the nuclear deal is likely to also have a huge impact on U.S. allies in the region
The already existing confusion among the U.S. allies is because of Trump always taking the wrong steps while dealing with them
The Trump administration, which is still completing its first year, has so far not produced any result other than consolidating Moscow in the Middle East.
Trump’s foreign policy and security team members more or less agree that Iran constituted a major problem for the region.
The neo-medievalism in regional geo-politics enforces passing alliances and unlikely groupings in several areas in the Middle East
No doubt, the Gulf Crisis has already shaken delicate balances and left the Gulf vulnerable to various provocations from outside as well
The Trump administration seems to be taking some initiatives now that the deadline has passed in the Gulf crisis
Turkey, as the only regional power with a strong state and democracy, is being lured into the Gulf crisis, but it is working to avoid the trap
The Gulf clearly wants to fuel polarization between Sunnis and Shiites in the region to contain Iran and, believing Turkey's partnership with Qatar to be an obstacle before their agenda, wants to sever Doha's ties with Ankara
Turkey's stabilizing role as a functioning democracy and strong market economy will be in higher demand in the coming months
Gulf nations must realize the danger of their current policies in the region and do something about it
