Erdogan’s Stage: The "Security Revolution" That Gave Him Victory Over Europe – And The Silence in the Face of Repression
NATO leaders are "making a pilgrimage" to Ankara, for a summit that constitutes a major achievement for Erdogan: Trump promises to "make him happy" – perhaps with an F35 stealth fighter deal – and European…
Assessment
A NATO summit in Ankara has become a stage for Erdogan, who frames Turkey's growing defense industry as a strategic pivot point. European leaders, worried about U.S. reliability, now court a country they have criticized for democratic backsliding. The irony is sharp: Erdogan claims Europe needs Turkey more than the reverse, and his domestic crackdown continues with no public rebuke from visiting leaders. The key question is whether this defense leverage will permanently shield Ankara from Western accountability.