Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addresses members of his ruling Justice and Development Party, May 18, 2022 (Anadolu)
As Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, I joined Turkey’s ANews to analyze President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s threat to veto Swedish and Finnish membership of NATO.
Professor of American Studies at the University of Birmingham @ScottLucas_EA gives a run down of how things could pan in the next few days with #Turkish FM #MevlütÇavuşoğlu and #AntonyBlinken in the #US.
Host @Mhammami pic.twitter.com/aY9llZOe5Z
— ANews (@anews) May 18, 2022
I explain that Erdoğan is bargaining to exact a price from Sweden, Finland, the US, and Europe: a Swedish and Finnish crackdown on Kurdish organizations; supply of US warplanes to Turkey; concessions by Washington over its support of the Kurdish-controlled area in northeast Syria; and more European funds for Turkey’s hosting of Syrian refugees.
All of this is taking place amid a worsening Turkish economy — and a Presidential election next year.
Erdoğan is not dealing with this from a security standpoint. He’s like a businessman in a transaction, trying to get the best bargain.
‘People’s inflation’ for basic goods at 177 percent in Turkey: https://www.duvarenglish.com/peoples-inflation-for-basic-goods-at-177-percent-in-turkey-news-61461
“According to a recent report by a union of public employees, inflation level for basic consumer goods in Turkey has reached 177.5 percent compared to last year. Fruit prices have surged by 229.9 percent, while the prices of dairy products and eggs have climbed by 150.2 percent since October 2021.”
Soaring inflation and a collapsing currency: Why is Turkey’s economy in such a mess? https://www.euronews.com/2022/10/05/everything-is-overheating-why-is-turkeys-economy-in-such-a-mess
“Runaway inflation and a collapsing lira are pushing millions of Turks to the brink of financial ruin and slamming factories, farmers and retailers across the country.More than two-thirds of people in Turkey are struggling to pay for food and cover their rent, according to a survey by Yöneylem Social Research Centre, fuelling a surge in mental illness and debt.”