How Turkey’s new spy chief sees the US’ rivalry with China and Russia?
Middle East Eye
Your eye on the ground. Independent Middle East and North Africa news.
By Ragip Soylu - MEE Turkey Bureau Chief
Good morning,
Turkey is still reeling from an attack by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Turkish outposts in northern Iraq that killed nine of its soldiers.
Following Saturday’s attack, Ankara responded by targeting energy and production infrastructure as well as oil wells where PKK-linked groups operate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Monday that Turkey would widen its military operations in both Iraq and Syria as Turkey’s parliament overwhelmingly endorsed a declaration that entrusted the government to move forward in targeting the militant group.
Turkey’s military strategy against the PKK has evolved through the years, but its new tactic of having outposts in high altitude hills during the harsh winter months is proving costly.
But the top military brass has indicated that there won’t be a reversal in policy and the approach will continue as is.
As Ankara copes with such threats, its perception of world security and power dynamics has begun to change.
In today’s newsletter, we’re going look at the most recent remarks by Turkey’s new president of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), and how Ankara views the current world order and the challenges posed by both China and Russia to the international system.
If you want to receive this newsletter direct to your inbox, you can sign up here .
Turkey wants to have its cake and eat it
Turkey’s new spy chief, Ibrahim Kalin, isn’t new to either international politics or foreign policy and his most recent speech at the 97th anniversary of the MIT was filled with references to geopolitical issues that Ankara will have to address in 2024 and the immediate future.
Having served as chief advisor to Erdogan and as a spokesman for the presidency, his speech was replete with analysis on the war on Gaza, how Turkey would handle relations with a dynamic and assertive China and its ties with foe turned ally: Russia.
Kalin said “the unipolar world order” led by the US was in a state of turmoil with powerful nations determining on their own terms how they would address the crises they are facing.
“The countries that talked about international law in the Ukraine war [have] remained silent regarding Israel's attacks on Gaza,” he said. ?
“There is no [world] order that prevents crises and ensures stability.”
领英推荐
He said that for too long the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had remained unresolved and Israel’s latest offensive on Gaza had shaken the existing global world order, forcing many to question the validity of the system.
In recent years, Turkey has been attempting to build bridges and establish mutually beneficial partnerships with both China and Russia.
Kalin described both countries as trying to take a more active role against the Western alliance while trying to establish a multipolar world order.
He said the Western alliance was already responding to the challenges posed by these countries, which further erodes the sense of global stability, and it was likely that we would see further wars and conflicts in the near future.
“The ongoing war of attrition between the West and Russia is one concrete example of this,” he said.
“Different methods of the war of attrition will be used in the fight against China, which is a formidable rival for some and an open adversary and enemy for others.”
Kalin said that while Turkey appreciates Kyiv’s wholehearted defence of its country, the Ukraine war was born from a geopolitical power struggle between Russia and the West and there would be no chance to resolve the issue unless a fair global security architecture is built.
He also warned that the ongoing Russia-West showdown over Ukraine is only delaying the upcoming China-West crisis and if timely measures are not taken, the effects of this conflict would be severe.
But where does he see Turkey in the power struggle between the West and Russia-China?
“Turkey, as an independent and sovereign country, is a strong member of NATO. It is one of the most important allies that enables the alliance to survive and become an effective power,” he said.
“Turkey does not see its commitment to the NATO alliance as an obstacle to other regional and global initiatives. The main reason behind the "unreliable ally" allegations against Turkey is that Turkey acts decisively to protect its own rights as a sovereign and independent country.” ?
Kalin said that Ankara depended on two main concepts to defend its sovereignty and independence: self-reliance and deterrence.
He added that Turkey would continue to behave like a “fair and smart” power that would aim to protect the well-being of people, not only in Turkey, but also those in the region.
Worth mentioning
Top stories by MEE