A test of US-Europe ties: Russia, Iran and Turkey
First the historical facts:
- Without the United States going into the Second World War, it would have been impossible for the United Kingdom and non-Nazi Europe and the communist Soviet Union to form an alliance and win the war against Hitler’s aggression.
- Without the U.S., it would have been impossible to form the Western defense alliance NATO. It would have also been impossible to pull Ankara and Athens out of Moscow’s zone of influence.
- Without the U.S., it would have been impossible for Germany and France to cooperate over strategic resources (coal and steel) in Europe, which has evolved into the most successful peace and development project in modern history, the European Union.
Now the current facts:
- It is the U.S. administration, who alienates itself both from Europe and Russia by declaring political and economic sanctions without acknowledging that the disintegration of the Soviet Union has not ended up with a unipolar world instead of a bipolar one, but a multi-polar one with the rise of the EU and China as global powers in addition to Russia.
- It is the U.S. administration, who is threatening its NATO allies along with Russia’s aggression (which provides necessary material by annexing Crimea). U.S. relations with Turkey have dived to their worst level due to a number of reasons, including cooperating with the country’s archenemy in the neighboring country Syria, pushing Turkey to cooperate with Russia and Iran on Syria.
- It is the U.S. administration, who is starting a trade war against Europe to make them kneel down before the monopolization of the American industry and finance, without acknowledging that China is buying out the rest of the world as a result.
- It is also the U.S. administration, who has declared more sanctions against Iran risking a nuclear deal approved by the former administration due to the demands of the Israeli government, curbing the economic potential between Iran and Europe, together with the possibility of reformists gaining support in Iran; the oil rich country that used to be a strong ally until the Islamic Revolution, which was also agitated by a U.S.-backed corrupt Shah.
And the countermoves:
- The U.K. has been drawn into a row over Brexit, which is a problem in itself. But France and Germany have begun to talk about standing against the threats of U.S. sanctions against Russia, China, Turkey and Iran, knowing that whatever happens today to the targeted countries, might happen to them the next day.
- In a deep (and mutual) confidence crisis, Turkey is cooperating more and more with Russia and Iran over its security concerns, which means taking risks as a NATO country. This causes security concerns in Europe, since Turkey holds a crucial geographical position between Europe, the Black Sea, the Middle East, the eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus.
That might be the reason behind the reconciliation between Turkey and the EU, despite the ongoing criticism over the quality of democracy and economy in Turkey.
A reanimation of ties between Turkey and EU might be the cure for it all, which is actually beneficial to the U.S., if the current administration can see that.
