The Turkish government has recently implemented international policies that blame the West for actions against or threats to Turkey. Turkey has had several political disagreements with Western members, one of them being violating Iran's sanctions. Halkbank, a Turkish public bank, was accused of assisting the Iranian management in selling products and transferring funds in the form of gold to Iranian financial institutions, violating the rules of the sanctions on Iran declared by the US management. Another significant political issue between Turkey and the US is the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missiles.
The US claims that this violates NATO rules, and some agreements on developing new security technologies and producing F-35 fighter planes have been terminated unilaterally by US management. Furthermore, certain sanctions have been announced to impose sanctions on Turkey's trade relations with the Western world if the necessary steps are not taken by Turkey.
However, Turkey has recently gained more power and significance for the West. The Russian army's invasion of Ukraine, as well as Turkish president’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s role as a moderator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, have had a significant impact on US policy decisions. It appears that Turkey's involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine may result in a balance between them, and the invasion may be halted. The Western world greatly appreciates Turkey's efforts to end the armed conflict in Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have declared that Turkey can act as a bridge-builder between them in order to foster peace.
Turkey has demonstrated its importance to the West through its efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Even the governments of the EU and the US have sent representatives to Turkey to discuss the armed conflict in Ukraine, and Erdogan has been summoned by the prime ministers and presidents of these countries. In other words, the Western world has recognized Turkey's importance as a political intermediary between the East and the West. Following the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, the US and the EU have thus begun reassessing the sanctions imposed on Turkey. Pushing Turkey away would be highly costly for the West.
The Economic Consequences of Placing Sanctions on Turkey
Sanctions are extremely concerning for Turkey. The Turkish economy is already in deep financial and economic trouble. Sanctions imposed on the country could lead to much worse outcomes. However, Turkey is not the only country these sanctions may affect. The recent developments in the Middle East, as well as the armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia, have demonstrated that Turkey has played an important role in balancing the East-West political and economic relations, meaning it is better for the EU countries and the US to maintain good relations with Turkey.
If the Western world loses Turkey's support, there is no other country that can assist the Western world in completing this critical task. Turkey has also played a balancing role during Syria's armed conflict and the management of irregular Syrian immigration to Western countries. It is easy to see that Turkey manages Afghani immigration to the West as well.
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