When the Soviet-style Western military-industrial complex is now the master of institutions
by Glauco D’Agostino
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a dictator by some inexperienced self-styled Democratic Heads of State of NATO countries, could give life to that diplomatic action for peace in Ukraine that the Soviet-style Western military-industrial complex, now an institutions’ master, sees as a smokescreen. The boost to a magnification of clashes of same people political factions, such as those confronting each other in Ukraine, finds a limit thanks to “willing actors” working for negotiations.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which will host 2,000 guests between Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and high-level representatives of international organisations to discuss global and regional issues, could be the framework for Russia-Ukraine peace talks under Erdoğan’s mediation. Turkey has all the features.
Since many EU members have entered pro-escalation extremism, the hypothesis of the EU or an EU country as a mediator has fallen. Since Switzerland is now co-opted into the sanctions madness and, anyhow, leads financial affairs on a social crime verge, Federation good offices are also unlikely. Conversely, Ankara’s diplomacy has all the credentials to play that role. Nobody can accuse Erdoğan, the democratically elected leader of a NATO country, of siding with Moscow. His long-lasting political closeness to Kyiv, the opposition to the Russian annexation of Crimea, the solidarity with the Peninsula’s Tatar people, his role in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, a contrast to Putin’s politics in the Libyan theatre bear witness. The historical Turkish-Russian antagonism for the Black Sea and Balkans does even more.
The need for dialogue is another matter, the necessity of coexistence for peace without ever bowing head either to Moscow or Washington. What a difference compared to Olaf Scholz, Boris Johnson and Mario Draghi’s comfortable oiliness! And, allow me, compared to the ambitions of a useless von der Leyen who always lacks a seat. At least, Erdoğan is a leader elected by the people, different from some technocratic exponents put in power by finance oligarchies. But the warlike attitude of those technocrats is not innate. It could be a deep-rooted habit in acquiescing the military-industrial and financial complexes for which they have to respond directly to the sovereign people, according to the democracy canons.
Indeed, it is Kyiv that proposes future negotiations in Turkey, Poland or Hungary. Unlike its NATO partners, Erdoğan’s Turkey has not opposed sanctions against Russia, and it abstained from voting on the UN resolution condemning Russia. It has maintained a neutrality attitude allowing today a step worthy of a great nation. It proposes itself as a peace actor, rather a “West-style” fomenter of war. From this mediation in Antalya or other contexts, a sigh of relief may perhaps come for the people living in Ukraine, whether identifying with Zelenskij or looking to Putin as a liberator.
As of now, the Antalya mediation is only a hypothesis, although it’s sure Lavrov will be there. Whatever the case, the dialogic relationship between the “Sultan” and the “Tsar” could be decisive for the Ukrainian crisis. While the rest of Europe continues to play with supposedly disparaging appellations, it does not realise that the end of his Empire and arrogant “Caciques” goes hand in hand with the inability of its diplomatic representatives. Eventually, you cannot tame the Russian Bear with a Laughing Hyenas!
