Interesting take, we’ll see how it all plays out. The “playing both sides against the middle”game has been the same for Turkey/the Ottomans since at least the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca and Erdogan is very good at it, I agree. Imo his real challenge is reigning in his ambition and not letting his ego (juiced up with dreams of Ottoman Imperial glory and Pan-Turanian fantasies) write checks his rear end can’t cash.
Well said. Israel destroyed the Syrian military, but Erdogan put the boots on the ground that pushed Russia out and now controls Syria. He will do the same with Iran. Turkish speaking Azerbaijanis are the main minority group in Iran. Erdogan has been cultivating them to use as his proxy. And the Iranian President is himself a Turkish speaking man of Azerbaijani descent, with pre existing close ties to Erdogan. When the dust settles, Turkey will control Iran and its oil.
Great article as always Zineb!
You guys are insane if you think Iranians will let Turks control anything in Iran
That wasn’t even suggested in this article.
Turks are distrusted as ancient colonial masters in every part of the Near East.
Interesting take, we’ll see how it all plays out. The “playing both sides against the middle”game has been the same for Turkey/the Ottomans since at least the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca and Erdogan is very good at it, I agree. Imo his real challenge is reigning in his ambition and not letting his ego (juiced up with dreams of Ottoman Imperial glory and Pan-Turanian fantasies) write checks his rear end can’t cash.
Well said. Israel destroyed the Syrian military, but Erdogan put the boots on the ground that pushed Russia out and now controls Syria. He will do the same with Iran. Turkish speaking Azerbaijanis are the main minority group in Iran. Erdogan has been cultivating them to use as his proxy. And the Iranian President is himself a Turkish speaking man of Azerbaijani descent, with pre existing close ties to Erdogan. When the dust settles, Turkey will control Iran and its oil.