Bi-Polar Power in the 21st Century

Bi-Polar Power in the 21^st Century

by Behcet Kaya

The following article is my personal opinion.

In this 21st century, the bi-polar powers have not yet been settled on. It is clear that the U.S. is losing its hegemonic power and the world is struggling as to who will retain hegemony. Will it be a one country hegemony? Or will it be a true Bi-Polar Power?

How do we see this?

BRICS is a five-nation alliance with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa now meeting regularly. The most obvious thing is that they are forming a common currency against the world’s most reliable currency the U.S dollar. These nations want to trade and use their own currency instead of U.S. dollars.

Since 1945 the U.S. dollar has been used exclusively to purchase petroleum and natural gas, medicine, and weapons. And now, because the dollar is losing its power, the U.S. government is printing money without any backing, pushing the U.S debt to over $35 trillion.

Another point to consider is the Shanghai Five Union had their yearly meeting on July 4th. Do you see the political implication of this meeting? Since July 4th is the American Independence Day, it is quite clear that the non-western countries are telling the U.S. that they are no longer a hegemony.

Another important political maneuver is coming from Sweden. For many months now Sweden has been doing everything possible to insult Turkiye. It started when the extreme right neocons in Sweden tied to show a caricature of Muhammed. Then they burned a Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Sweden. Since then, two other similar incidences have taken place in front of a mosque in Sweden.

Furthermore, Sweden supports the PKK and allows them to demonstrate in Stockholm streets. The PKK goes further and fundraises in Sweden for its cause, sometimes selling illegal drugs. Sweden turns the other way.

All these tactics by Sweden are an attempt to blame Turkiye for vetoing Sweden’s bid to join NATO. In my opinion there is another reason why Sweden is insulting and provoking Turkiye. It is expressly FOR the purpose of having Turkiye veto Sweden. 80% of Swedish people are opposed to joining NATO.

Even during the most turbulent times during the Cold War era, Sweden did not want to join NATO. But now the Swedish Prime Minister has come to the U.S. to meet with Biden and ask Biden to pressure Erdogan to allow Sweden into NATO. However, this is all just a show. Why? Because Sweden does not want to anger the U.S. They continue to play their cards to remain on the side of the U.S. on the off chance that Russia threatens Sweden.

But let’s get back to the original point.

As I stated, this power struggle for hegemony or bi-polar power has yet to be settled. Turkiye wants to be a part of this power and Erdogan is doing everything right in handling foreign policy. Erdogan is telling the big powers that Turkiye is following an independent foreign policy despite pressure from the U.S.

An indication of this is the fact that the U.S. is now telling Turkiye to allow Sweden into NATO. If they do then the U.S. will make the deal to sell the F-16 jets to Turkiye The answer from Erdogan was, “Do not mix the F-19 jet sale with Sweden’s entering NATO.” Erdogan is not budging despite the U.S. pressure and U.S. sanctions on Turkiye.

Because Erdogan is standing his ground, the U.S. and Europe believe he is playing both sides. But this is not true, despite the years of good relations between Turkiye and Russia. Each nation has their own advantage to cooperate together and at times they all have disagreements.

For the last 250 years Turkiye and Russia have fought seventeen wars. All those wars were instigated by the West to keep the Republic of Turkiye, previously the Ottoman Empire, and Russia, previously the Soviet Union, in control.

The West has played this card well. The result was the both the Soviet Union and the Ottoman Empire came to an end. Now both Erdogan and Putin see this well and they want to not make the same mistake again. We see this in two recent events. One, when FETO factions inside the Turkish military influenced the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet in Syria. Two, when FETO trained police shot a Russian ambassador in Ankara.

Erdogan made an apology to Russia. But both Russian and Turkish policy makers understood that these two incidences were provoked by the U.S. and Europe. Because of this understanding, Turkiye and Russia did not start a war like they would have in the past.

When Zelensky came to Turkiye two days ago, he was welcomed by Erdogan. Both Russia and Ukraine trust Turkiye. Erdogan is the one who, along with the UN, put together the grain deal which allowed both countries grain to reach the world markets.

Erdogan has made statements such as, “Ukraine deserves to join NATO.” But in reality, Erdogan is indirectly telling Zelensky that Ukraine cannot join NATO. That is also what Erdogan recently told Biden during a telephone conversation.

Why?

Right now the war is between Ukraine and Russia. If Ukraine were allowed to join NATO, the war would then become a war between Russia and NATO. That has the potential to become a much worse scenario. Putin could possibly use nuclear weapons. Then the world would be embroiled in one hell of a situation.

Indirectly Erdogan is telling Putin that although Turkiye and Russia have good relations, he does whatever is good for Turkiye.

How did Erdogan accomplish this?

Erdogan negotiated a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Five Ukrainian Azov commanders that were captured by Russia were allowed to reside in Turkiye with their families until the end of Russia/Ukraine war. That was the international agreement.

When Zelensky came to Turkiye two days ago, Erdogan sent the commanders and their families back to Ukraine with Zelensky. That angered Russia and the Kremlin press secretary, Petrov, stated that Turkiye had broken an international agreement.

In my personal opinion, I believe President Putin already knew what Erdogan was going to do. Also, by sending the Ukrainian commanders and their families back to Ukraine, Erdogan was telling Europe and the U.S. that Turkiye is not on anybody’s side. Turkiye will continue to enforce an independent foreign policy.

Turkiye is a force to be reckoned with in the race for bi-polar power.