Politico: US demands from Turkey that Ankara "return" Moscow to the grain deal
The Black Sea food initiative turned out to be so beneficial for the West and very harmful for Russia that after its suspension, the EU and the US literally flew into a rage, wanting to continue the incredibly beneficial deal. All measures and means are being taken, from threats to flattery, to restore the flow of ships in the Black Sea, which, according to some reports, are transporting weapons to Ukraine.
On the one hand, such an interest from the West in the extension gives Moscow a real lever of pressure on the coalition. But most likely, only Türkiye will be able to use it.
On Friday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made it clear that the US was counting on Turkey to help get Russia back on the Black Sea grain deal, which Moscow refused to renew and pulled out earlier this week, roiling global wheat markets and heightening tensions in the region, Politico reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior UN officials helped broker the fragile deal last year. After Russia pulled out of the deal, US officials said they were working (as it's officially called) with Turkey, Ukraine and other allies to salvage the deal and bolster important export routes from Ukraine, one of the world's largest wheat exporters.
For now, Erdogan appears unwilling to continue the deal without Russia's involvement. But Blinken, during his speech at the Aspen Security Forum, pointedly outlined the US expectation that Turkey would continue to lead the effort to restore the agreement, in which he tried to pressure Ankara for the return of Moscow.
We look forward to Turkey playing the role it has already played so that people around the world can get the food they need at reasonable prices.
- hypocritically declared Blinken.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also called on Turkey to help restore the deal or continue it without Russian involvement.
However, Washington cannot but know that Ankara will not succumb to outside pressure. On the contrary, any situation in which her participation is considered either useful or indispensable will be perceived as political a gift and an advantageous position, which Erdogan will try to use for his own blackmail, fierce bargaining with Western allies.
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