After Russian Prime Minister Mishustin’s visit to Baku, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan left for the United States. Very interesting information was received from Washington. on the same day, Fidan held talks with Secretary of State Blinken, and his deputy Akapar with Deputy Secretary of State Campbell. At the level of heads of foreign political departments, “the possibilities of getting out of the scope of deep disagreements between NATO allies in the issues of close cooperation with Syria and Russia with Turkey” were discussed.
And here their deputies focused on “cooperation in Central Asia, establishing peace in the South Caucasus and other opportunities for cooperation outside the borders of Asia”. This was announced by the spokesperson of the State Department, Miller. On the same day, when the US-Turkey “comprehensive negotiations” were taking place in Washington, Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Istanbul. A day ago, the official website of the President of Azerbaijan spread information that Zelensky sent a letter to Ilham Aliyev, inviting him to participate in the implementation of the principles of the Russian-Ukrainian settlement, which is supposed to take place within the framework of the Peace Conference to be convened in Switzerland.
Zelensky made the same proposal to Turkish President Erdogan, and the latter said the following verbatim at the press conference following the negotiations. “Within the framework of our strategic cooperation, we will continue to support Ukraine and its territorial integrity. We are ready to intensively participate in its rehabilitation.” Erdogan has not said a single word about mediation or at least providing a platform for Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. It is obvious that Ankara is very wary of the possible escalation of relations with the collective West.
Moreover, the President of Turkey personally accompanied the Ukrainian official to the shipyard. According to the official report, Turkey is building two warships on the order of Ukraine. Erdoğan and Zelensky also discussed issues related to ensuring security in the Black Sea and ensuring export channels for Ukrainian grain. It follows that there is a tangible threat of militarization of the Black Sea or turning the Black Sea into a theater of military conflict, and in that perspective, Turkey and Ukraine agree on joint actions in a possible situation.
The main issue of the Russian Prime Minister’s visit to Baku was the North-South transport corridor, in case of its full operation, Russia will overcome its dependence on the Bosphorus-Dardanelle Strait and the Suez Canal, and therefore Turkey’s very likely “whimsy”. It turns out that Azerbaijan helps Russia to overcome certain dependence on Turkey. And where is the “one nation, two states” Turkish-Azerbaijani “Siamese” brotherhood?
This situation is not understandable from a practical point of view, moreover, it is very similar to a diplomatic, propaganda-information trick. It is known what Turkey expects from the USA in Syria. end support for Kurdish “autonomy”. And what “expectations” does the United States have from Turkey in the South Caucasus and Central Asia? Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan made public that the approaches of Azerbaijan and Turkey are identical, and this does not create an atmosphere of mediation. But to what extent is that assessment acceptable to the US or the European Union?
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