Turkey can talk about being an independent country only when it manages to extract itself from the relationships of dependency it has with Western institutions and transform them into relationships that are equal and bilateral. Until now it has always been about Western platforms engaging in one-sided imposition, coercion, direction and role-determination in the defense, economy or political field.
Our membership in NATO for instance, instead of being joint security cooperation among Atlantic countries, is more like a structure that looks to use Turkey as a garrison state. Furthermore, for us NATO became much more than being about joint defense, going on to become something that protects the identity of Turkey’s regime. Covert operations conducted to protect that identity created a dependent relationship.
A native-sourced determination and struggle has been underway for a long time in order to balance these dependent relationships. It is only now that we are finding out that the vast majority of arguments marketed to us in the guise of security concerns were part of projects to hegemonize, control, supervise and shape the internal policies of our region. It is only recently that Turkish society is becoming familiar with these projects that were implemented by the power elites via the centers of power.
NOT A BRIDGE BUT A NEWLY-ESTABLISHED COUNTRY
We live in a period where the global axis has shifted, the number of power centers has increased, the quest for a unipolar world order has become nothing more than a fantasy, new political and economic capitals have emerged, the gap in capital and technology is rapidly narrowing, and core countries are under pressure due to the economic advances of countries on the fringe.
It is exactly at this juncture in history that a country like Turkey -- which has history, ambitions and an extraordinary amount of accumulated political knowledge -- is seeking to reestablish itself, adopt a native stance, become self-aware, and build the Turkey of the future by comprehending global trends. This is only possible by balancing the relationships of dependency.
At a time when we reject the century-long tutelage, we are obliged to question these dependent relationships in detail, find alternatives and find a balanced position in order to transcend being under political tutelage, a frontline country, a garrison state and a bridge. We should review our relationship in this light whether it be about NATO, the European Union or other economic and political platforms.
There must be a problem if a country that has been combating terrorism for 40 years hasn’t been able to get support from the Alliance despite the southeastern borders of NATO facing a threat, while the United States, which was a victim of a terrorist attack, managed to get all of NATO to rally behind it. It should not be forgotten that we are a country that has questioned the founding structure of the United Nations, which is an unjust structure set up on the basis of five permanent members. The whole world should now accept that assigning roles to a country that tests the system is no longer possible.
ARMS MANUFACTURERS WRITE THE HEADLINES
It has been for quite a while now that we have been discussing a topic that could prove to be a catalyst. Turkey’s tender for a long-range missile system led to a violent clash in this sense. It was the Chinese who provided the best bid for a tender, which had technology transfer and condition-free terms as its priority in line with the nationalization of defense manufacturing. Turkey naturally was drawn to the Chinese bid given that it was most suitable to its new defense doctrine.
That was when all hell broke loose. An incredible attack was launched against Turkey by weapons manufacturers, the United States and other NATO members. They applied strong pressure and threatened Ankara by saying “how can you purchase missiles from China when you are a member of the Alliance.” An incredible media campaign was launched in Turkey. Newspaper and television coverage was saturated with threatening articles. It almost reached the point where an arms embargo was being mentioned.
It can’t be forgotten that the Bugün newspaper was made to run the headline “NATO uneasy.” Weapons manufacturers provided the story that would be the lead story in a Turkish national newspaper for the sake of a bid. The same media operation was being carried out in the United States and Europe as well.
THEY WANTED TO SUFFOCATE TURKEY
The real issue was not China. The issue was not Turkey entering a partnership with another firm for a missile. The issue was to smother Turkey’s search for locally-produced and independent defense systems. Turkey would not be permitted to make its own choices. It wouldn’t be permitted to develop its own national defense strategy. We saw some disturbing examples of multinational corporations being used to direct Turkey. The powers that are engaged in nuclear negotiations with Iran wouldn’t allow Turkey the opportunity to even produce a missile. They were concerned that in the future Turkey, too, would shift to nuclear technology and be independent.
There are so many people and quarters in this country that would like to be subcontracted with such tasks that even political parties became spokespersons for those lobbies. If capable they would spark a civil war in Turkey, fuel tensions in society and stop Turkey.
NATO was making statements, Israel was making statements, the Financial Times was issuing instructions to Turkey on a daily basis, and writers in the pockets of weapons lobbies were threatening Turkey. The former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Francis Ricciardone would mention “their deep concerns.”
The Turkish media, political opposition and lobbies were all pained about one weapons manufacturer losing a bid, and had entered a race to punish the country for the sake of one weapons firm. It was impossible to weave one’s way through the threats and blackmail.
IT WON’T BE INTEGRATED TO THE NATO SYSTEM: REVOLT!
Turkey took a step back. It gave another opportunity to the U.S. and French firms that had raised an outcry. It gave them time to renew their bids, and even added a further extension. This retreat, however, upset the public and those who want to be independent and local. They were upset because this was a submission of sorts.
The missile issue was back on the agenda yesterday. Debates resurfaced after Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz said, “There have been no new bids.” The firms that had raised an outcry had yet again ignored technology transfer and ways of local production. The primary aim of this tender issued by Turkey was transfer of technology and local production. Minister Yılmaz announced, “The missile system will be integrated to the national system and will be used without integration with NATO systems.”
The bids from the United States and France are not even close to meeting this demand. It looks like Turkey is once again leaning toward the Chinese alternative. But Yılmaz’s remark that “it won’t be integrated with the NATO system” might spark another revolt today. Propaganda campaigns via the media might recommence. There might be uproar that “Turkey is splitting from NATO.” Threats might be made and blackmail conducted. The uproar created in the U.S. and European press could be reflected word by word in the Turkish media.
WE AWAIT A ‘NATO UNEASY’ HEADLINE
The Fethullah Gülen group’s media outlets, which ran “NATO uneasy” headlines back then, could be in the forward ranks of the new debate as well.
We, this nation, and the Turkish public will be hurt if Turkey submits to pressure, retreats and shows signs of weariness. This is now a country where independent and native attempts are applauded and supported, regardless of who is involved. The fight against political tutelage means an obligation to neutralize tutelage in all fields. This country will no longer stand being threatened by a company that is pursuing a bid worth US$3.4 billion or those who seek to spread those threats based on orders they receive from those countries.
Let’s see what kind of outcry is raised this time by those who want to turn Turkey into a Ukraine based on a tender…
