July’s failed coup attempt in Turkey has exposed more than the coup plotters. Turkish President Recept Tayip Erdogan has realized that Western rulers and Nato members are not his real friends. Russia and Iran are.
Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan is ruthlessly ambitious. He is prepared to crush anyone that gets in his way to grab more power. The latest victim is his long-time associate Ahmet Davutoglu.
Recep Tayip Erdogan is a ruthless politician. He acts like a street thug insisting on having his way. This is what has just transpired in forcing his long-time friend and ally Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu to resign. Since Erdogan wants to change the constitution to grab all powers in his hands as president instead of allowing the prime minister executive authority as per the constitution, Davutoglu is being pushed out. Erdogan wants to be king!
Confronted by total failure in Syria and after years of strained relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey is now seeking better relations with Tehran. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s visit last month confirms this policy shift.
Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan has alienated many Turks by his extravagant lifestyle and massive corruption of his family and cronies. The June 7 election will prove an important test for his hold on power.
Turkey’s role in supporting the takfiris is beginning to create problems for the country.
What kind of a deal did Turkey make with the takfiri terrorists to secure the release of its diplomats is unknown. For now, there are celebrations in Turkey but questions are being asked about Turkey's contact with the takfiris and what kind of support it is offering them. Turkey has supported groups fighting to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Asad in Syria.
Davutoglu to Erdogan: Are you sure I can be prime minister? Will I get to move into your office?
After experiencing repeated failures in its policies, especially in Syria, Iraq and Egypt, Turkey has embarked on a course correction in foreign policy. One hopes these are sincere and that Ankara would work for peace and justice rather than disunity in the region.
There are clear signs that Turkey is making important changes in its policies that had led to serious disagreements with many of its neighbours. These primarily related to its policy on Syria where the AKP government had made the overthrow of Bashar al-Asad a central plank of its policy. This has failed and Turkey is changing course. It is also taking steps to reduce sectarian tensions. These are welcome developments.
Merely a year ago Turkey enjoyed much respect among neighbors and established warm and cordial relations with them, helping to catapult Ankara’s political, economic and cultural objectives. Frequent visits to neighboring countries by Turkish delegations, usually accompanied by senior government officials including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signing memorandums of understanding and agreements, increasing trade and political as well as military cooperation, heralded a new era for the conflict-torn region.
Since January 2011, Syrian streets have been hit by a protest demanding removal of the Ba‘th regime and Bashar al-Asad from power. A growing armed insurgency and other developments, which took place in November, showed that the situation is getting out of control, dragging the country into a bloody civil war.
