Â鶹ӰÊÓ

World

    • With new mandate secured, Turkiye's Erdogan likely to continue engaging with both West and Russia

    Share
    ANKARA, Turkiye -

    After securing a strong new mandate in a runoff presidential election, Turkiye's Recep Tayyip Erdogan could temper some positions that have irritated his NATO allies. But observers predicted that the country's longtime strongman leader is unlikely to depart from his policy of engaging with both Russia and the West.

    Erdogan won re-election Sunday with more than 52% of the vote, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade. He must now confront skyrocketing inflation that has fuelled a cost-of-living crisis and rebuild in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people and levelled entire cities.

    After failing to secure victory outright in the first round of voting on May 14, Erdogan defeated opposition challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who had promised to put Turkiye on a more democratic path and improve relations with the West.

    A divisive populist and masterful orator who transformed Turkiye's presidency from a largely ceremonial role to a powerful office, Erdogan won in part due to the backing of conservative voters. They remain devoted to him for lifting Islam's profile in Turkiye, which was founded on secular principles, and raising the country's influence in international politics while charting an independent course.

    In the runup to the election, Erdogan held off approving Sweden's entry into the NATO alliance -- part of a western effort to isolate Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan accused Sweden of being too soft on groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, and a series of Qur'an-burning protests in Stockholm angered his religious support base -- making his tough stance even more popular.

    With his immediate political future now secure, Erdogan may be willing to lift his objection to Sweden's membership, which must be unanimously approved. Turkiye and Hungary are the only two countries in the alliance that have not ratified the bid.

    "Turkiye will likely signal it is open to some form of rapprochement, such as by encouraging parliament's ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO," said Jay Truesdale, who heads the geopolitical risk consultancy, Veracity Worldwide.

    But that doesn't mean Erdogan plans to abandon his relationship with Russia, on which Turkiye relies on for energy and tourism revenue.

    "Erdogan has successfully maintained a multi-vector foreign policy, which has enabled him to have constructive relations with Russia, China and countries throughout the Middle East, even if this has been to the detriment of Turkiye's alliances with the West," said Truesdale.

    A man reads Turkish newspapers a day after the presidential election day in Istanbul, Turkey, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

    That has often put Turkiye at the centre of major international conflicts and debates: helping to negotiate a deal to restart Ukrainian grain exports and avert global food shortages, intervening militarily in Syria's civil war, engaging in controversial gas exploration in the Mediterranean, hosting millions of Syrians fleeing violence and then often using those refugees as leverage in negotiations with his European neighbours.

    In a reflection of his global ambitions, Erdogan declared in his victory speech Sunday that, with the country marking its centennial this year, the world would see a "Turkish century."

    Erdogan's tendency to play both sides -- such as purchasing Russian-made military equipment and refusing to enforce sanctions against Moscow while also providing drones for Ukraine -- has often irked his allies.

    But it also often makes him indispensable, as evidenced by the western leaders who rushed to congratulate him, even as they remain concerned about his increasingly authoritarian turn -- including crackdowns on free speech and rhetoric targeting the LGBTQ community.

    U.S. President Joe Biden said in a message posted on Twitter, that he looked "forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges."

    Later, Biden said he'd called Erdogan to congratulate him but also raised some of the most contentious issues at stake.

    "I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So let's get that done. And so we'll be back in touch with one another," Biden said.

    He said he and Erdogan would talk more about Sweden and NATO next week.

    Washington removed Turkiye from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program after Erdogan's government purchased Russia's S-400 air defence system. Turkiye is now seeking to purchase F-16 fighter jets.

    French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said his country and Turkiye "have huge challenges to face together," including a return to peace in Europe. "With President Erdogan ... we will continue to move forward."

    And in a sign that he is also important to the West's adversary, Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed Erdogan's victory to his "independent foreign policy."

    Those policies helped Erdogan maintain his popularity despite significant challenges at home, including an economy battered by high inflation and a devastating earthquake that led to criticism of his government. The Turkish lira plunged against the dollar Monday, though stocks rallied.

    "Who else were we going to vote for but the man who brought our country to this point?" Hacer Yalcin asked during post-election celebrations. "He prepared everything, piled it all in the middle, and now someone else is going to come and eat it?"

    Erdogan is likely to press ahead with recent efforts to normalize relationships with countries of the Middle East after fallouts with several regional powers, including Israel, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

    Erdogan acknowledged in a recent television interview that certain Gulf States, that he did not name had given Turkiye financial assistance that helped prop up the country's economy.

    Under intense domestic pressure to evict millions of Syrian refugees, Erdogan has also been trying to mend fences with Syrian President Bashar Assad -- after years of backing opposition fighters seeking to depose him.

    Erdogan's government hopes that rapprochement with Assad can lead to the safe repatriation of the refugees. Damascus, however, has said Turkiye needs to withdraw from areas in northern Syria that it controls.

    While the U.S. and Europe are likely to seek Turkiye's support on some issues, like Sweden's membership in NATO, observers said the relationship will be remain difficult in other areas, such as Turkiye's accession to the European Union. Those talks are stalled over democratic backsliding under Erdogan and are unlikely to be revived.

    "Another five years of Erdogan means more of the geopolitical balancing act between Russia and the West," wrote Galip Dalay, associate fellow at Chatham House in London. "Turkiye and the West will engage in transactional cooperation wherever (Turkiye's) interests dictate it -- and it will compartmentalize its relationship."

    ------

    Bilginsoy reported from Istanbul. Cinar Kiper in Bodrum, Turkiye, contributed to this report.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Toronto police have identified the woman who was allegedly killed by a suspected serial killer earlier this month.

    A man who stabbed a senior to death in Vancouver's Biltmore Hotel building in 2020 has been given a conditional sentence for the killing, meaning he will not serve any jail time if he remains on good behaviour in the community.

    British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.

    In a rare occurrence, a bona fide great white shark washed up on a B.C. beach Thursday.

    More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.

    Canada

    • More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.

    • Border guards in Montreal intercepted millions of amphetamine tablets concealed in hundreds of PVC panels inside a container from China.

    • A woman from Montreal's South Shore appeared in court on Friday on charges of aggravated assault after allegedly scalding a 10-year-old boy with boiling water more than one week ago.

    • A man who stabbed a senior to death in Vancouver's Biltmore Hotel building in 2020 has been given a conditional sentence for the killing, meaning he will not serve any jail time if he remains on good behaviour in the community.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    • James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

    • This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of a large blizzard that paralyzed Manitoba.

    • Two sisters from Ontario travelled to Newfoundland to spend time with their mom after they learned she lost $20,000 to a romance scam.

    Sports

    Autos

    • Elon Musk unveils his 'Cybercab' robotaxi

      Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled on Thursday his vision of a 'a fun, exciting future,' an 'age of abundance' full of his company’s self-driving cars without steering wheels, parking lots turned into parks and robots that will walk among the population – that he once again promised would be available within a few years.

    • video

      video

      Dozens of cars were pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor on Tuesday, causing many questions for Windsorites.

    Local Spotlight

    James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

    This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of a large blizzard that paralyzed Manitoba.

    There was an eye-catching mix of rainbows and lightning over Vancouver following a brief downpour this week.

    Jeff Warner from Aidie Creek Gardens in the northern Ontario community of Englehart has a passion for growing big pumpkins and his effort is paying off in more ways than one.

    Saskatchewan’s Jessica Campbell has made hockey history, becoming the first ever female assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL).

    Have you ever seen videos of hovercrafts online or on TV and thought, 'Wow, I wish I could ride one of those.' One Alberta man did, and then built his own.

    A B.C. couple is getting desperate – and creative – in their search for their missing dog.

    Videos of a meteor streaking across the skies of southern Ontario have surfaced and small bits of the outer space rock may have made it to land, one astronomy professor says.

    A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.

    • With just over a week to go until election day, another BC Conservative candidate is coming under fire. This time, for comments about First Nations communities.

    • New research is showing the positive impact SOGI 123 or sexual orientation and gender identity resources are having in schools across British Columbia.

    • Greater Vancouver hosting multiple Northern Lights displays is part of a "very natural cycle", says UBC professor.

    • Toronto police are investigating after a reported stolen vehicle hit two homes in North York Friday evening.

    • Cindy Ali, the Toronto mother who was acquitted in the 2011 death of her 16-year-old daughter Cynara after serving more than four years in prison, is suing Toronto police and the city for more than $10 million.

    • Police are looking for a driver involved in a hit-and-run in the northeast Calgary community of Pineridge that sent a man to hospital in serious condition.

    • Calgary Public Library (CPL) locations will be closing early on Friday following a cyber attack.

    • As work on the Green Line gets ready to roll again, the biggest question about the LRT project continues to be about its route through Calgary's downtown.

    • The temporary LaSalle Causeway bridge in Kingston, Ont. will be fully closed on Tuesday to create temporary access for marine traffic, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

    • A Manotick business has been left stunned as thieves made off with $90,000 worth of jewelry.

    • The Ottawa Police Service is asking the public for help in identifying a suspect involved in an alleged "possible" attempt to abduct a group of children in the Orleans area last weekend.

    • Montreal police have arrested two young adults in connection with the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that killed a mother and her young daughter.

    • A woman from Montreal's South Shore appeared in court on Friday on charges of aggravated assault after allegedly scalding a 10-year-old boy with boiling water more than one week ago.

    • Border guards in Montreal intercepted millions of amphetamine tablets concealed in hundreds of PVC panels inside a container from China.

    • A week ago today, Lita Pawliw was on the receiving end of a phone call no mother ever wants to get.

    • Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is taking legal action against three people he alleges spread inflammatory and libelous allegations about him.

    • Alberta's United Conservative Party members will soon debate 35 policy resolutions that include banning transgender people from women's washrooms, prohibiting non-binary gender identifiers on government documents, and ensuring trans medical treatments are not publicly funded.

    • More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.

    • It's not the most auspicious Thanksgiving weather for the Maritimes as a series of low pressure systems and weather fronts move through the region bringing inclement weather.

    • Crews responded to a recycling building fire in Annapolis Valley, N.S., on Friday night.

    • Two Winnipeggers have been arrested after images and videos were posted online of animals being tortured and killed.

    • A 37-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with multiple offences after videos filmed in a public pool change room were seized by police.

    • Thanksgiving shoppers will have something to be thankful for this year.

    • There is a lot on the line in Saturday’s matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions as a Rider win will secure them a home playoff game.

    • Regina will vote for a new mayor, city council and public and separate school board trustees on Nov. 13.

    • The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party laid out its platform on Friday, ahead of the Oct. 28 provincial election.

    • Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has officially begun! Here's what happened during Friday's big Bavarian celebration at Willkommen Platz.

    • The Northern Lights put on another spectacular show on Thursday night, with shades of blue, pink and green rippling across the night sky.

    • Kitchener, Ont. native Steven Lorentz scored his first goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

    • The leaders of Saskatchewan’s two major political parties are sharing their plans to tackle the growing homelessness crisis.

    • The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party laid out its platform on Friday, ahead of the Oct. 28 provincial election.

    • A Prince Albert woman has developed an app that allows people to lend and borrow items from each other.

    • Two sisters from Ontario travelled to Newfoundland to spend time with their mom after they learned she lost $20,000 to a romance scam.

    • An Ontario man said he feels 'devastated' after learning his identity was stolen to take out two fraudulent loans under his name.

    • Glenn Thompson packs his E-bike to make the short trip back to the room he’s renting. Just a few short weeks ago, he was living in a tent.

    • Striking union workers at Western University have voted in favour of their new contract.

    • Around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, police said two men forced their way into a home in the area of Ashley Crescent and Ashley Place where the homeowner woke up to the commotion.

    • Grey Bruce OPP have charged a 63-year-old driver from Toronto for failing to stop for a school bus after a student was struck by a passing vehicle while boarding a bus Friday morning in West Grey Township.

    • Police say the victim of an armed robbery shooting at a gas station has since died of his injuries, and the suspect remains at large.

    • A Christian Island man is facing multiple charges in connection to the left of a vehicle in Midland.

    • A family of six has lost all their personal belongings after their house was destroyed by an explosion on the eve of the Thanksgiving Day long weekend.

    • A Windsor man testified in his careless driving trial in a Chatham-Kent courtroom on Friday.

    • A University of Windsor board member is calling for a pause on controversial agreements made with pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied part of the campus earlier this year.

    • Windsor residents are reacting to the proposed involuntary treatment for mental health and drug addiction.

    • With just over a week to go until election day, another BC Conservative candidate is coming under fire. This time, for comments about First Nations communities.

    • B.C. Conservatives Leader John Rustad says it will be up to voters to judge his party's candidates as he stood by a pair whose remarks on Indigenous and Muslim people drew condemnation from election rivals and other critics.

    • James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Local photographers were amazed by the aurora borealis display in the night sky over Lethbridge on Thursday night.

    • Lethbridge- The latest monthly report from the Alberta Real Estate Association shows Lethbridge has seen one of the biggest year over year increases in home prices.

    • The Interfaith Food Bank is busy preparing Thanksgiving bundles and has some tips for anyone hoping to cut down on their holiday dinner costs.

    • A closer look at preventing graffiti will be looked at in Sault Ste. Marie, after a string of offensive displays by one man, including spray painting anti-Indigenous language and painting over the pride crosswalk.

    • Even on an average day, the intersection of Highway 17 at Highway 6 near Espanola is busy, but it’s especially steady on a Friday before a long weekend.

    • A 34-year-old in Sault Ste. Marie who was wanted for a probation violation was found this week with a switchblade, drugs, a digital scale and $5,170 in cash.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹ӰÊÓ. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹ӰÊÓ