Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to the US to ask President Donald Trump to help his country with eurointegration and solve the problem with Syrian refugees, writes the "Free Press". In return, the head of the Turkish state is going to promise to press Vladimir Putin and force the Russian president to return Crimea to Ukraine.
Erdogan is in the US for several days. Forced it to make a transatlantic voyage 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. For all world powers this event is undoubtedly a landmark. Leaders of the vast majority of countries use this political platform as an opportunity to express their problems or tell the opposite - about achievements. However, the President of Turkey does not seem to be interested in either the first or the second. He needs Donald Trump. Erdogan plans to meet with the head of the White House to try to bargain for his country certain preferences.
It has long been noticed that the Turkish leader is an amateur sitting on several chairs at the same time. For several years now, he has been trying hard to maneuver between Russia and the United States. Following in the political fore, then one superpower, then another. Of course, with an exceptional benefit for themselves and their country. That criticizes the actions of Russian military security services in Syria, to please the White House. That buys antiaircraft missile systems from Moscow, definitely nerving at the same time Washington. And no wonder, - Turkey is a NATO member country. And to buy weapons from the main rival of the alliance certainly should not.
The head of one of the branches of the Republican People's Party of Turkey, political scientist Cengiz Yunlu, believes that Erdogan tries to consolidate his country as a superpower in the Middle East. Who can not dictate the terms.
"I doubt that he will manage to do this, because he has proved himself to be a bad negotiator. And now he also thinks of himself, like Trump or Putin. So you can not think, because Turkey is not a superpower, "Yunlu said..
According to the expert, at a meeting with the owner of the White House, Erdogan will propose Trump to solve a number of Turkish problems. Which in principle is quite possible for that. But does this need a Republican - a big question. In particular, the Turkish leader will ask his overseas colleague to help with the resumption of the negotiation process with Brussels on his country's accession to the EU. The cornerstone for Turkey is the problem with Syrian refugees.
"In Turkey, the monstrous rise in property prices is connected with Syrian refugees. Trump's assistance in resettlement of refugees in EU countries and elsewhere would be very useful, "the Turkish political scientist believes..
In addition, in fact, Trump with a stroke of the pen can solve the problem of Turkish Kurds who are actively fighting on the Turkish-Syrian border. Having instructed the Pentagon to stop supplying them with weapons and ammunition and depriving them of political support.
What can, in exchange for such courtesies, be offered by Erdogan himself. There are several options. Most likely, Ankara will have to abandon the demands to extradite from the US the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who in Turkey is considered the organizer of the mutiny of a year ago. And also to stop twisting the nuts of the Turkish opposition, allowing it to criticize the authorities and gather for rallies. Well, the most interesting. According to Chingiz Yunlu, Erdogan can help in resolving the Crimean issues.
"It can become Erdogan's joker in negotiations with Trump. Russia listens to Turkey, because there is interdependence between them. And in this respect Turkey could influence Russia, its policy in Europe. The United States and all the rest are dissatisfied with the fact that Crimea took Russia.
Erdogan could talk about this with Putin. If he wanted to, he could persuade him to leave the Crimea. It's not easy, but possible. By such measures, Turkey has achieved what it needs, "said the Turkish expert. However, he immediately added that it was all ephemeral. If only because Erdogan is not capable of such a dialogue, because of excessive vehemence. Thus, if the meeting between the Turkish and American leaders takes place, it is unlikely to end any significant and productive.