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OK, tweeps. It's Thanksgiving. Otherwise known as Turkey Day So it's time for my annual thread on Turkey...
Turkey remains a hugely problematic NATO and US ally. From domestic oppression at home to illicit finance and support for terrorism and rogue states abroad, this is an ally in name only. And one gets a sense that the tensions with the US may reach a boiling point soon.
Turkey's terrorism problem first popped up on my radar with the 2010 @IHHen flotilla to Gaza. The organization has long been flagged as having ties to terrorism. I noted those ties here: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/the-terror-finance-flotilla
But that was not all. There were clear signs that Turkey had become patron for Hamas. https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/08/20/lying-down-with-dogs/
The biggest problem from my perspective was that Saleh Arouri, West Bank Qassam Brigades commander, was operating there. He was responsible for the kidnapping/murder of the 3 Israeli teens that sparked the 2014 war with Hamas.
This, inter alia, led to @StateDept issuing a Rewards for Justice on Arouri. https://www.state.gov/rewards-for-justice-reward-offer-for-information-on-hamas-and-hizballah-key-leaders/
But it was not just Hamas. In 2014, this @FDD report flagged a range of other terrorism-related concerns. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2014/02/20/terrorism-finance-in-turkey-a-growing-concern/
We also flagged a growing problem: Turkey's tacit and even open support for ISIS. Fighters were streaming in to Turkey to find their way southeast to the Syrian border. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2014/11/19/bordering-on-terrorism/
Then there is the $20 billion sanctions evasion scheme that landed Turkish officials and Halkbank in hot water. They executed the largest sanctions evasion scheme in modern history on behalf of state sponsor of terror Iran. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/01/iran-turkey-gold-sanctions-nuclear-zarrab-atilla/549665/
More recently, Turkey bought and activated the Russian S400 system -- in defiance of NATO and the US. Congress is now fully justified to impose CAATSA sanctions on Turkey now. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2020/10/16/with-s-400-escalation-turkey-tests-nato/
Other challeges include:
Hostage Diplomacy: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2018/05/31/erdogans-hostage-diplomacy-western-nationals-in-turkish-prisons/
Targeting US consulate workers: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/02/01/turkey-doubles-down-on-persecution-of-u-s-consular-employees/
Support for other rogue states: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/01/24/erdogan-rushes-to-maduros-help/
Stifling free speech at home: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2020/11/06/turkey-fines-social-media-platforms/
Hostage Diplomacy: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2018/05/31/erdogans-hostage-diplomacy-western-nationals-in-turkish-prisons/
Targeting US consulate workers: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/02/01/turkey-doubles-down-on-persecution-of-u-s-consular-employees/
Support for other rogue states: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/01/24/erdogan-rushes-to-maduros-help/
Stifling free speech at home: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2020/11/06/turkey-fines-social-media-platforms/
I could go on, but I have a Turkey to bake (14.5 lbs). Just remember, on this Turkey Day, that the temperature is rising with this problematic ally. With the incoming Biden administration finally tackle these problems head on? The last 2 administrations have not. Here's hoping.
