Wall Street Journal: Europe is silent against political repression in Türkiye

According to RCO News Agency, the US media reported that Europe has been ignored by the opposition of the opposition in Turkey, referring to the lack of serious European leaders’ reaction to the arrest of Istanbul mayor Akram Imam Khulalu, as it needs to cooperate with Ankara in the current situation.

In the past, Türkiye’s efforts to suppress democratic opposition were faced with sharp reactions to Europe, according to the Wall Street Journal; But now Washington’s distance from Brussels and the increasing threat of Russia has caused concerns about human rights and democracy.

“Türkiye, with the second largest NATO army and a powerful defense industry, plays a vital role in European security; “Especially when the Trump administration is seeking closeness to the Kremlin and publicly hostile to his European allies.”

After the catastrophic visit of Donald Trump and Waldimir Zelnski, US and Ukrainian presidents at the White House, European leaders sought to organize their security without the United States. In the meantime, senior Turkish officials have found a special place in security cooperation. In the new European Union’s defense strategic document, which describes the widespread European weapons regeneration program, Türkiye has been introduced as a key security partner alongside the UK, Norway and Canada.

In the middle of the near -March, Erdogan’s main rival in the upcoming presidential election, Akram Imamoglu, was arrested; The act that is said to have come from political motives. Throughout Türkiye, widespread demonstrations and arrests of political activists, journalists and human rights activists continue.

Although some European countries, including France, have expressed their “deep concern” of Imamoglu’s arrest, these criticisms have been very mild and there has been no connection between Türkiye’s internal developments and expanding security cooperation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed his concern in an interview with his Turkish counterpart, adding, “We do not like to see instability in a country that is close to us.”

Nico Lange, a former German defense ministry official and senior researcher at the Munich Security Conference, says European countries are no longer able to focus on Turkey’s internal situation because they face a threat from Russia and the not -so -European government in Washington.

“Europeans consider themselves a traditional heir who, based on democracy and law -based order, also collaborates with the same partners,” he said. But today, with an adult and geopolitical approach, security considerations and common materials should be taken into account. “Security cooperation with Türkiye is in our interests.”

Igor Yanke, head of the Warsaw Freedom School, also believes that European countries, including Poland, should focus on their security, because they can no longer count on US support. “In this new and threatened Russian situation, democratic problems in other countries do not matter,” he says.

“For Poland, it is important to buy good military equipment and ensure its security,” he said. “If there is a threat to war and our main ally as we thought it would not be possible, we should naturally look for new partners.”

Gonul Todel, director of the Turkish program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, says the model began with the year’s agreement between the European Union and Türkiye; When Brussels paid billions of dollars to Ankara in exchange for a wave of Syrian asylum seekers and other countries. “The European Union has closed its eyes on Erdogan’s actions for geopolitical reasons,” he says. “They will continue to strengthen their defense relationships with him.”

Imamoglu, who is currently in custody, also criticized the West’s ignorance of democratic backwardness in Turkey, in a note to the New York Times, saying: “Recent events have increased Turkey’s strategic importance, especially in terms of its vital capacity to help European security. But geopolitics should not overlook us of erosion of values, especially human rights abuses; Otherwise, we give those who are legitimized and destroyed by law -based order. “

Italian parliamentarian Lia Quartaple also said that Europe should be realistic about what he calls Erdogan’s authoritarian nature. He emphasized that although security cooperation with Ankara is favorable, Turkey should not be placed in the line of allied democracies such as Britain, Norway and Canada.

“Ignoring what is happening inside Türkiye is a short decision,” he said. Countries whose leader’s political survival is prioritized over national interests do not deserve a reliable alliance. Unfortunately, we have learned the same lesson from the United States at a high cost. “

Since the start of the Ukrainian war in February, Türkiye has been trying to make a balance between the West and Moscow. Ankara did not join Western sanctions against Russia and became one of the main channels of trade and technology transfer to Russia. At the same time, Türkiye supported Ukraine, sold it, and banned the arrival of Russian warships into the Black Sea.

But now that the Trump administration is seeking a new geopolitical deal with the Kremlin, Türkiye is in a vulnerable position and is facing new security challenges. Russia, who has been a strategic rival for centuries, can now sacrifice Turkey’s interests if it reaches an agreement with the United States.

“Although Turkish policymakers do not take a stand on the threat of Russia, this is a vital importance in private circles in Ankara,” says Sinan Olgen, head of the Oddah think tank in Istanbul. The dominant understanding is that if Russia can return to the strategy of influence, especially in the Black Sea, this would be very dangerous for Türkiye’s strategic interests. “

Türkiye is also concerned about US officials’ suggestions to expand Washington and Moscow’s cooperation in West Asia; An area in which Ankara recently gained a strategic privilege by interfering with and supporting the opponents of Bashar al -Assad.

“The agreement between the great powers in which each has its own influence is not good for Turkey, and in the long run it will lead to an inevitable conflict with Russia; “Whether in the Black Sea, in the Caucasus or in the form of Russia’s return to the Middle East.”

Modern Türkiye has a lot to say in the defense field. The Baikar Defense Company, which recently purchased the Italian Aircraft and Piazio Airlines Factory and engine, has become one of the world leaders in the production of military drones over the past decade. Türkiye also exports armored vehicles, ammunition, artillery systems and sea vessels to European countries; Weapons that are often much cheaper than American or European specimens.

The development of Türkiye’s indigenous arms industry is largely owed to its all -out ties with its allies. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in year 3, the United States imposed a three -year sanctions on Ankara’s weapons. Germany also stopped selling weapons to Türkiye after Türkiye’s land in northern Syria. In year 4, the United States fired Turkey from the F-1 fighter program for the purchase of the Russian S-1 Russian defense system.

“In Europe there are few countries that have long sought more independence than the United States; Including France, Türkiye and Sweden. “This is very useful in current conversations.”

He further emphasized that the expansion of European security relations with Türkiye is partly possible, but permanently domestic unrest in Türkiye cannot be ignored. “Can this situation continue forever?” The answer is complicated. “It all depends on the intensity of the protests inside Türkiye and the extent of their suppression.”

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