EU-US Balance Turns into a Pincer

Firstly, the EU gave Turkey a date but gave it no hope on December 17. A door was opened to full membership negotiations, however, whether or not this would result in full membership was not guaranteed. On the contrary, France decided to hold a referendum, with Turkey, undoubtedly, as the main target. That is to say, even if Turkey completes negotiations and the Council of Europe approves its membership, for this to go into effect, it will require approval from the anti-Turkey French people.

Secondly, several EU countries that were against the US at the beginning of the Iraq war, raised the "white flag" with the re-election of US President George W. Bush. The EU showed that it is not an alternative power to the US. The US-EU balance is not suitable for setting the balance between great powers, like the rivalry between Great Britain and Germany before World War I and the US and the Soviet Union after World War II.

Hence, against the US, Turkey has never pursued a policy that centers around its national interests, relying on EU protection. On the contrary, Turkey’s "excessive desire" for EU membership is perceived by Brussels as an opportunity "to obtain concessions on the Cyprus issue."

The EU, which admitted Greek Cyprus, that carried out massacres in Cyprus, as a full member, now aims at ridding itself of the mistake it made, by also pushing Turkey to endorse this mistake. The Greek Cypriots, who caused the division of the island, are at the same time, the side which said "no" to the United Nations (UN) peace initiative, however, the EU continues to reward the Greek Cypriots and punish the Turkish Cypriots, who are being unjustly treated. The embargo imposed on the Turkish side persists. Turkey is forced to buy duty-free Greek Cypriot goods. Signing a supplementary protocol, that will mean a de facto recognition of the Greek Cypriot side, is being demanded as a precondition.

The US approach to Turkey also has not been different since the Iraq war process. The US does not even deem it necessary to utter a word with regards to the effects of the developments on Turkey’s interests. Open your southern border, don’t intervene in Northern Iraq, support our policies on Syria and Iran, approve broader US access to the Incirlik Air Base!

Because the US knows the "government with no political power," is Turkey’s soft belly, it exerts pressure on the government. With a manipulated media campaign, it pushes the government into the corner. It also forces Turkey to toe the US line through anti-Americanism allegations. It is even trying to use passage of the so-called Armenian "genocide" resolution in Congress as a "bluff."

The US is trying to pressure over Turkey the March 1 deployment motion, however, Turkey compensated for the first decision by approving a second motion that envisaged sending troops to Iraq. If the US had not become a "slave" to the Kurds and Turkish troops had been alllowed to operate in Iraq, current problems, such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Kerkuk (Kirkuk), the Turkmen and the Kurds, to a great extent, would not have been experienced. If there are no Turkish troops in Iraq today, it is not Ankara’s fault but that of the US.

However, recent pressures by Washington, appear aimed at making Turkey take a step back on the Incirlik issue. As a matter of fact, the neo-Cons, who hold influential positions in the Bush administration, had foreseen the overthrow of Saddam, expansion of the Incirlik base, and if possible, recommendation of another base in Anatolia, in a report entitled, "Project for the New American Century," they prepared before the occupation of Iraq. The Incirlik demand is part of a project that was planned a long time ago.

Just as the EU is seeking concessions on the Cyprus issue, the US is also seeking concessions on issues such as the Incirlik base and the likes. It is not possible for Turkey to break out of these two pincers with a balanced policy among the powers, if it does not make concessions. Turkey should revise its foreign policy preferences and re-shape them in line with the present circumstances. Because a balanced policy develops imbalance.