Bobby Ghosh argues that portraying Turkey as the next strategic threat after Iran is misleading and could fuel unnecessary confrontation. Some Israeli politicians, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, have warned that Ankara may fill the regional vacuum left by Iran. Ghosh contends that although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pursues an assertive foreign policy and uses anti-Israel rhetoric, Turkey lacks the ideological project, proxy networks and nuclear ambitions that defined the Iranian threat. Treating Ankara as an existential adversary, he argues, risks escalating tensions and undermining efforts to manage relations with a difficult but strategically important NATO ally.
flatulentbaboon on
On one hand, I kind of hope Israel does try to fuck with Turkey and get a much deserved ass whooping from Turkey
BackgroundRich7614 on
1. Turkey is stronger, overall, than Israel, while Iran was weaker.
2. Turkey is a part of History’s strongest defensive alliance, while Iran was a rouge state without any allies.
3. Turkey is an illiberal democracy, just one that Erdogan has hijacked, while Iran is a full-on Theocracy.
Invade_Deez_Nutz on
Did anyone say it was?
michaelclas on
Look, I don’t think that Turkey is the next Iran either, but let’s not pretend that the long term threat isn’t there either
Under Erdogan, Turkey has deepened ties with Hamas and other Islamist groups; he regularly makes threats, everything from liberating Jerusalem to calling on Allah to damn Israel. A lot of this is just to throw a bone to his base, but the sentiment is worrying regardless
Turkey has taken a deep illiberal turn, with Erdogan and his political allies locking up political opponents, violently shutting down protests, and he’s now angling to change the constitution so he can continue to lead the country
Given how more despotic leaders often look for enemies abroad to rally the nation and distract from internal issues, I could see a lane where Turkey in the future takes a far more assertive role in challenging Israel and raising the possibility of military conflict
5 Comments
Bobby Ghosh argues that portraying Turkey as the next strategic threat after Iran is misleading and could fuel unnecessary confrontation. Some Israeli politicians, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, have warned that Ankara may fill the regional vacuum left by Iran. Ghosh contends that although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pursues an assertive foreign policy and uses anti-Israel rhetoric, Turkey lacks the ideological project, proxy networks and nuclear ambitions that defined the Iranian threat. Treating Ankara as an existential adversary, he argues, risks escalating tensions and undermining efforts to manage relations with a difficult but strategically important NATO ally.
On one hand, I kind of hope Israel does try to fuck with Turkey and get a much deserved ass whooping from Turkey
1. Turkey is stronger, overall, than Israel, while Iran was weaker.
2. Turkey is a part of History’s strongest defensive alliance, while Iran was a rouge state without any allies.
3. Turkey is an illiberal democracy, just one that Erdogan has hijacked, while Iran is a full-on Theocracy.
Did anyone say it was?
Look, I don’t think that Turkey is the next Iran either, but let’s not pretend that the long term threat isn’t there either
Under Erdogan, Turkey has deepened ties with Hamas and other Islamist groups; he regularly makes threats, everything from liberating Jerusalem to calling on Allah to damn Israel. A lot of this is just to throw a bone to his base, but the sentiment is worrying regardless
Turkey has taken a deep illiberal turn, with Erdogan and his political allies locking up political opponents, violently shutting down protests, and he’s now angling to change the constitution so he can continue to lead the country
Given how more despotic leaders often look for enemies abroad to rally the nation and distract from internal issues, I could see a lane where Turkey in the future takes a far more assertive role in challenging Israel and raising the possibility of military conflict