While the war in Ukraine has shown once again that Turkey and Europe need each other, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s behavior has underscored just how different the European Union and Turkey are. Given Turkey’s size and importance, these differences must be managed, because they cannot be ignored.
BERLIN – Around this time a year ago, very few people put much stock in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political future. Persistent hyperinflation was wrecking the Turkish economy, and the country was playing host to millions of Syrian refugees with no real chance of returning home. Then came the devastating earthquake this past February, which killed tens of thousands of people, completely overwhelmed local institutions, and exposed endemic corruption.
BERLIN – Around this time a year ago, very few people put much stock in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political future. Persistent hyperinflation was wrecking the Turkish economy, and the country was playing host to millions of Syrian refugees with no real chance of returning home. Then came the devastating earthquake this past February, which killed tens of thousands of people, completely overwhelmed local institutions, and exposed endemic corruption.