Turkey has no choice: Erdogan is preparing to withdraw from NATO
As RIA reports today News from Athens, leaders political parties in Greece rejected another version of the constitutional name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - "Republic of Ilinden Macedonia".
Recall that the decision of this exotic “naming dispute” determines whether Macedonia will receive an invitation to join NATO at the June summit of the North Atlantic Alliance. The background of the “name dispute” is the underlying territorial dispute of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece over the ownership of the provinces of the historical region of Macedonia.
As you know, in 1912, after the First Balkan War, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, which inflicted a military defeat on Turkey, divided Macedonia among themselves. Greece received the southern provinces of Macedonia, Serbia - the northern, and Bulgaria - the north-eastern. After the establishment of socialist Yugoslavia in 1945, the People's Republic of Macedonia (in 1945) was created on the territory of the Macedonian provinces that had previously ceded to Serbia (in 1963), in XNUMX it was renamed the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
The Greeks reacted to the emergence of a territorial entity under the name "Macedonia" within Yugoslavia without enthusiasm. They believed then, and still believe now, that the name "Macedonia" allows a state with a territory to pursue an irredentist policy if it wishes. Simply put, Greece wants the country with its capital in the city of Skopje to be called whatever, but not "Macedonia", since the Greek state has Macedonian provinces.
Irredentism is another antique political term, originating from the Italian organization Italia Irredenta, created in 1878, and advocating the return of Italy of the Austrian border territories with the Italian population (Trieste and others). Note that in the end these territories really became part of Italy.
As a Russian researcher, doctor of historical sciences Alexei Miller, noted in his publication Irredentism and the Crisis of National Identity, irredentism as a political practice has many examples of successful implementation.
- notes the Russian scientist.
It should be noted that despite the presence or absence in the future name of the present Yugoslav republic of Macedonia named “Macedonia”, this will not affect the desire or unwillingness of any public groups in Skopje to come up with irredentist initiatives. However, the settlement of the “naming dispute” is a formal requirement of NATO, wishing to receive at least some official assurance that there is no territorial dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
The formalism of North Atlantic alliance officials is not so unfounded. Recall that the two key countries of NATO’s southern flank, Greece and Turkey, have an unresolved dispute over the islands of Limniya (Ikizche) in the Aegean Sea, and twice, in 1987 and 1996, this dispute led Athens and Istanbul to a verge of balancing military conflict, and arms purchases by these countries often resemble not a fulfillment of obligations to NATO, but a regional arms race.
Turkey’s current position on the EU and NATO is also rather ambivalent. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently said:
In anticipation of the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey in June, far more far-reaching statements are made from this country. In particular, the presidential candidate, the leader of the Rodina party, Dogu Perincek, said that Turkey would withdraw from NATO if he was elected to this high state post.
- said Perincek.
Dogu Perincek also added, commenting on US policy towards Iran:
Despite the fact that the countries of Eurasia indicated to Dog Perinchek belong to Turkish sovereignty and interests much more respectfully than the United States, NATO and the EU, the prospect of Turkey leaving the North Atlantic Alliance in the long term looks completely uncontested.
Recall that the decision of this exotic “naming dispute” determines whether Macedonia will receive an invitation to join NATO at the June summit of the North Atlantic Alliance. The background of the “name dispute” is the underlying territorial dispute of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece over the ownership of the provinces of the historical region of Macedonia.
As you know, in 1912, after the First Balkan War, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, which inflicted a military defeat on Turkey, divided Macedonia among themselves. Greece received the southern provinces of Macedonia, Serbia - the northern, and Bulgaria - the north-eastern. After the establishment of socialist Yugoslavia in 1945, the People's Republic of Macedonia (in 1945) was created on the territory of the Macedonian provinces that had previously ceded to Serbia (in 1963), in XNUMX it was renamed the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
The Greeks reacted to the emergence of a territorial entity under the name "Macedonia" within Yugoslavia without enthusiasm. They believed then, and still believe now, that the name "Macedonia" allows a state with a territory to pursue an irredentist policy if it wishes. Simply put, Greece wants the country with its capital in the city of Skopje to be called whatever, but not "Macedonia", since the Greek state has Macedonian provinces.
Irredentism is another antique political term, originating from the Italian organization Italia Irredenta, created in 1878, and advocating the return of Italy of the Austrian border territories with the Italian population (Trieste and others). Note that in the end these territories really became part of Italy.
As a Russian researcher, doctor of historical sciences Alexei Miller, noted in his publication Irredentism and the Crisis of National Identity, irredentism as a political practice has many examples of successful implementation.
The ideology of the Third Reich was certainly irredentist. One of its key provisions is the unification of all Germans. The post-war Federal Republic of Germany was also irredentist because it did not recognize the division of Germany into two states and wanted these two states to become one. This is also irredentism. Today's China is certainly irredentist. In fact, the concept of "Greater China" implies that all states that were once part of Greater China should merge with their mother motherland
- notes the Russian scientist.
It should be noted that despite the presence or absence in the future name of the present Yugoslav republic of Macedonia named “Macedonia”, this will not affect the desire or unwillingness of any public groups in Skopje to come up with irredentist initiatives. However, the settlement of the “naming dispute” is a formal requirement of NATO, wishing to receive at least some official assurance that there is no territorial dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
The formalism of North Atlantic alliance officials is not so unfounded. Recall that the two key countries of NATO’s southern flank, Greece and Turkey, have an unresolved dispute over the islands of Limniya (Ikizche) in the Aegean Sea, and twice, in 1987 and 1996, this dispute led Athens and Istanbul to a verge of balancing military conflict, and arms purchases by these countries often resemble not a fulfillment of obligations to NATO, but a regional arms race.
Turkey’s current position on the EU and NATO is also rather ambivalent. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently said:
Western countries react with hostility to our activities in the Balkans, to the initiatives and efforts undertaken by us in this region ... We see that some people do not like our close cooperation with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are trying to distort the essence of our actions, because they are concerned that our cooperation is bearing fruit. Turkey’s efforts violate their plans, which they intend to implement by creating crises and instability, and hamper the implementation of their plans in the region.
In anticipation of the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey in June, far more far-reaching statements are made from this country. In particular, the presidential candidate, the leader of the Rodina party, Dogu Perincek, said that Turkey would withdraw from NATO if he was elected to this high state post.
NATO sees Turkey as an enemy, although Turkey is a member. Most recently, the alliance conducted exercises where [the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk and the current president of Turkey were indicated as a combat target. The United States helps the Kurdish terrorist groups, supply them with weapons, so Turkey and the United States are already in an unfriendly relationship. When we come to power, Turkey will leave NATO, American planes will fly home from Incirlik airbase, the base itself will completely come under the control of the Turkish military, and there will be no American military presence in Turkey
- said Perincek.
Dogu Perincek also added, commenting on US policy towards Iran:
The United States will not succeed, because from now on Turkey’s turn to the Atlantic is impossible, its present place is Eurasia, together with the Russian Federation, Iran, China, India, and the countries of Central Asia.
Despite the fact that the countries of Eurasia indicated to Dog Perinchek belong to Turkish sovereignty and interests much more respectfully than the United States, NATO and the EU, the prospect of Turkey leaving the North Atlantic Alliance in the long term looks completely uncontested.
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