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Can Russia’s War on Ukraine Drive Turkey and the West to Reconcile?
Selim Yenel considers for the German Marshall Fund of the United States what the situation in Ukraine may mean for relations between Turkey and the West, in particular the European Union. Turkish and Russian interests are seldom aligned, and while Turkey has abstained from joining in sanctions it has voiced its support for Ukraine and labelled Russia's actions as a declaration of war. Turkey has recently softened its rhetoric towards the West, and has begun to improve its relations with its neighbours. From the EU perspective, the invasion has renewed interest in EU enlargement, with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova submitting membership applications that were received positively by the EU. Given this context, the author argues that it is important for Turkey, the EU and the US to capitalise on the urgency necessitated by the Russian invasion to recalibrate their relations with one another.