EU-Turkey relations continue to be set under a carrot-and-stick policy

The year 2021 began with a renewed“eternal friendship” relationship between Turkey and Western imperialists.

In recent years, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which has been working to create a smoke screen across the tensions inside Turkey and its neo-Ottomanist purposes by renewing its alliance with reactionary forces in order to tighten its ranks, had made the snubbing of Western imperialists a routine.

But more recently, as if all the quarrels with the West had suddenly been resolved, government representatives - including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan - began claiming that “Turkey’s future, as with its past, is on the side of the West, NATO and Europe”.

Those who until a few months ago lectured France and the EU, have in recent weeks changed their tune with Erdoğan writing a letter addressed to “dear Emmanuel” and Foriegn Minister Çavuşoğlu declaring that Turkey is “normalising with France” and is “ready for a partnership” - indicating that they are happy with the stage their relationship with the EU has reached.

SUBMISSION TO THE EU IS NOT A PREFERENCE BUT THE ONLY OPTION!

Of course, it’s not just the language, the promises made and the styles used that changed. The “exploratory talks” with Greece, which have been disrupted for the last five years, resumed following the direct targeting of the issue in these discussions. The first of the talks was held in İstanbul on Monday, January 25, and it was announced that the second meeting would be held in Athens.

Moreover, we no longer hear reports that research and war ships were sent out into the Eastern Mediterranean, quite unlike in 2019, nor that back-to-back NAVTEX warnings were broadcasted. Even the role of Yeni Şafak writer İbrahim Karagül, who often sounded the drums of war in pro-government media platforms, became redundant.

In a meeting with Netherlands Foreign Minister Stefan Block, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that Turkey was right where it wanted to be and that “Turkey, as a candidate country, is ready in the highest level of decisiveness for a true partnership.”

For the pro-government media, there was no other option but to fall into the arms of Western imperialists once the minds of bourgeois politics and the one-man regime closed the path to not just the Eastern Mediterranean but also to Syria, Libya, the Aegean and the Caucasuses, and even Russia.

This was further exacerbated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey’s (Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası) reserves falling to a rate of “minus 48 billion dollars”.

However in State propaganda, they are showing these developments as a choice, willingly made by Turkey as the most advantageous path for the country and simply an expression of the one-man regime’s maneuverability.

But the truth is the complete opposite. The Turkish government is right where the Western imperialists want it to be as they have no other choice in foreign policy and, more importantly, in the economy.

THE ‘CARROT AND STICK POLICY’ IS STILL IN PLACE

The most talked about topic among these developments is the announcement that the sanctions postponed regarding the EU's March summit will not be brought to the agenda.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said:“There are no longer Turkish ships in the disputed areas in the Eastern Mediterranean; Talks have begun in Istanbul this evening between Turkey and Greece. These were the positive signals we had been waiting for a long time and further on, relations should not be strained and sanctions should not be imposed.”

However, “sanctions” have not been lifted altogether. On the contrary, according to sources from the EU, if current talks involving Turkey lead to unexpected results, the topic regarding sanctions will be rediscussed.

As a matter of fact, an EU official who did not give his name, stated: “Efforts in identifying individuals or entities are still in progress, but the council does not want to do so for now, taking into account the ongoing negotiations.

“If the worst-case scenario were to occur, the European Council will be able to take steps and be able to act fast.”

In short, it appears that the EU has not retreated from the “carrot-and-stick policy” it publicly announced a few months ago. On the contrary, while saying “We are ready to negotiate with full EU members”, the Erdoğan administration also stated that“We are ready to fulfil all the conditions set forth by the EU.” Based on the step taken, the EU does not impose sanctions, hence shows the “carrot.” From here forth, it seems that the attitude of the Erdoğan administration will determine how the “carrot and stick” relationship will work.

DEMOCRACY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY DEMOCRACATIC FORCES, NOT THE EU

Of course, one reaction to the announcement regarding the EU’s investments and how it will not be put into practice is noticed in circles that can be referred to as “EU sympathisers.” These circles criticise the anti-democratic initiatives of the one-man rule and the removal of the EU’s sanctions, all the while the one-man rule continues with all its glory.

The EU imperialist’s principles appear murky during their interactions with other countries, reason being nothing but “compliance for their own interests.” Anything else is but minor details. And those “minor details” are issues such as democracy, human rights, and freedom.

Furthermore, the acquisition of democracy and freedom in our country, and Turkey’s secular struggle for a democratic country is the responsibility of the people of Turkey. The working class, progressive democrats, intellectuals … those are Turkey’s democratic forces.

Because it has once again shown us the importance of this, we must carefully pay attention to the course of the Erdoğan administration and the EU’s relationship.