ETurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unleashed a provocative rant against the West on Saturday at a rally in Istanbul. The West created a “crusading atmosphere” against the Muslims and launched a new “war between the cross and the crescent”. “If you have such a thought, remember, this nation is still alive,” Erdogan shouted. You can “unexpectedly come every night”.
This should be understood as a threat to intervene in the war between Israel and Hamas. Erdoğan previously nominated himself as a mediator – but has since abandoned this role. Israel is a “war criminal,” he said. He previously described Hamas as a “group of freedom fighters” fighting “to defend their country and their people”.
Now a trip to Germany is imminent – Erdogan is expected in Berlin on November 17 and 18. Nils Schmidt, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, announced that the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip will also be a topic of conversation between the Turkish president and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
“The president will clearly state our view of the conflict and firmly oppose any attempt to compare the crimes of Hamas,” Schmidt told WELT. “However, we must continue to talk to Erdogan. Our goal must be for Turkey to assume its role as a constructive force, not to side with terrorists.
AfD foreign policy expert Stefan Keuter said he believes Erdogan’s comments about Hamas and the West during his visit to Berlin “shouldn’t be hung up too much.” “It should be in Germany’s interest to maintain good relations with Turkey.” Economic cooperation and migration management are important topics of discussion. “Nevertheless, Germany must make it clear that it stands by Israel.”
“No more grounds for debate”
Burak Kopur, a professor of political science at the International University in Essen, can see that Erdogan’s defense of Hamas “no longer has any basis for debate.” Economic and migration policy issues could be discussed at the ministerial level, said the Turkey analyst and head of the Radicalization Research and Prevention Center in Essen. “Rolling out the red carpet for Erdogan in Berlin and thereby downplaying his support for Hamas is completely the wrong signal,” Kopour continued. “Erdogan can add fuel to the fire in front of his supporters in Germany. It will worsen the situation on German roads.
Erdogan recently blocked Sweden’s entry into the NATO defense alliance for months and recently submitted a ratification protocol to the Turkish parliament. After this positive signal to the West, the AKP leader is now tightening his tone again.
“Such extreme tones poison coexistence in Germany”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that he sees radical Islamist Hamas as a “group of liberators” defending his country. After the October 7 massacre, such a statement was “horrifying and scandalous,” according to WELT editor Denise Yucel.
“Erdogan is a very tough NATO partner,” Ulrich Lechte, the FDP’s foreign policy spokesman, told the Bundestag. “It is well known that Erdogan acts as a reliable Western partner on the one hand and attacks the West to score domestic political points on the other. We must strongly oppose this and I think we will discuss this critically with Turkey at the next NATO meeting.
SPD foreign policy expert Schmidt points out that Erdogan has already “moved away from the common compass of values of NATO member states.” “Since Erdogan is re-elected, we will continue with him for the next few years,” he said. “However, isolating Turkey is not a realistic option.”
Thomas Jäger, a professor of international politics and foreign policy at the University of Cologne, is convinced that Erdogan can make such harsh statements about the West without fear. “Turkey can take this step because of its geostrategic location. “All sides related to Turkey want to prevent Turkey from being firmly in each other’s camp,” he told WELT.
Erdogan acting independently will not cause a deep rift in NATO because they do not want to lose Turkey as an ally. “But there will be a growing awareness that you cannot rely on Turkey, even if there is an alliance,” Jager continued. Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulates that each partner “must provide assistance” in the event of attacks, he said, adding that “the partner’s ability and willingness to assist in times of doubt is only of value.” . “Turkey can, but Erdogan always has the right to make other decisions.”
The Greens and CDU/CSU factions declined to respond to the WELT query for scheduling reasons; The left in the Bundestag did not react.
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