Europe's style toward bullies
After a military challenge to EU member Greece, Turkey opts for talks on maritime claims. Its change of heart may be a result of the EU鈥檚 patient and 鈥減ositive鈥� approach.
After a military challenge to EU member Greece, Turkey opts for talks on maritime claims. Its change of heart may be a result of the EU鈥檚 patient and 鈥減ositive鈥� approach.
Just a few months ago, Turkey sent a research vessel into the territorial waters of Greece 鈥� accompanied by warships 鈥� to explore for undersea gas. When Greece responded with its own show of force, the two NATO allies almost came to blows. Their gunboats even collided. Since then, Turkey appears to have had a change of heart, driven in part by the European Union鈥檚 diplomacy toward its giant Middle Eastern neighbor.
On Jan. 25, Greece and Turkey held their first official talks in nearly five years. They also agreed to meet again in March to continue the 鈥渆xploratory鈥� dialogue over maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean.
By some accounts, Turkey鈥檚 turnaround may be only temporary, compelled by a worsening economy and the election in the United States. President Joe Biden has referred to Turkish President Recep Tayyip聽Erdo臒an as an 鈥渁utocrat鈥� who 鈥渕ust pay a price鈥� for his actions, such as his purchase of a Russian missile defense system. Mr. Biden鈥檚 Secretary of State says Turkey is only a 鈥渟o-called strategic partner.鈥�
Another way to account for Turkey鈥檚 newfound friendliness is that the EU is relying on the diplomatic approach of German leader Angela Merkel. In dealing with troublesome neighbors such as Russia and Hungary, she often calls for 鈥渟tep by step鈥� moral persuasion rather than power plays and tough sanctions. She prefers negotiations that are a meeting of equals and more contemplative than contentious. 鈥淔ear is not a good adviser in politics,鈥� she says.
At her urging, the EU is pursuing a 鈥減ositive agenda鈥� with Turkey although one backed by talk of sanctions. One practical reason is that Turkey could again open its borders for migrants from the Mideast鈥檚 wars to enter Europe. Yet this 鈥渨eaponizing鈥� of refugees to get his way has backfired on Mr. Erdo臒an, delaying yet again his Muslim country鈥檚 hopes of joining the EU.
With the EU鈥檚 firm but patient approach, the Turkish leader may indeed be in a contemplative mood. The EU is Turkey鈥檚 No. 1 export partner and source of investment. With elections in two years, Mr. Erdo臒an needs the European market more than ever to reduce Turkey鈥檚 high unemployment.
At the least, he needs calm rather than confrontation with EU member Greece. As the EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said of Turkey this month, 鈥淟ike tango, you need both sides to be good neighbors.鈥� For Ms. Merkel and the EU, that means somehow bringing out the good in Turkey. The talks with Greece show it is possible.