Turkey's Position on Crimea and Support for Ukraine
Serhiy Korsunsky, Ukraine's former ambassador to Turkey, has detailed the geopolitical rationale behind Turkey's firm position on Crimea and its backing of Ukraine. He identified three core motivations:
- Security in the Black Sea region;
- The status of the Crimean Tatar people;
- A long-standing historical rivalry with Russia in the Caucasus.
Turkey's strategic interest in regional stability is underscored by its control of the Bosporus Strait and its membership in NATO.
Korsunsky stressed that Turkey has consistently supported Ukraine's bid to join NATO and will continue to do so.
"Turkey has always supported Ukraine's NATO membership, and it will support it to the last drop of blood," — Serhiy Korsunsky.Turkey also desires to see Georgia join the alliance, noting that neither country currently possesses a full-fledged navy, though both are working toward that goal.
The issue of the Crimean Tatars is another crucial element of Turkey's stance. Korsunsky noted,
"Crimea must be part of Ukraine; it must be the land of the Crimean Tatars, whom they call 'Crimean Turks' in Turkey," — Serhiy Korsunsky.This highlights Turkey's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Furthermore, Korsunsky pointed to Russia's actions in the Caucasus, arguing that Russia has prevented a settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, invaded Georgia, and razed Chechnya. "For as long as this empire has existed, it has viewed the Caucasus as its most important region," he remarked, emphasizing the Kremlin's desire to rebuild its imperial influence. Turkey's position is shaped by this centuries-old rivalry for influence in the region.
He also noted that Turkey has utilized proxy conflicts to weaken Russia, with the situation around the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict serving as one such test. "The fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan have, in a way, broken away and are allowing themselves to pursue a tougher policy is a reality," Korsunsky added.
Turkey's Geopolitical Interests
In summary, Turkey's position on Ukraine and Crimea is rooted in deep-seated geopolitical interests encompassing Black Sea security, support for the Crimean Tatars, and historical competition with Russia.
Turkey's stance demonstrates its strategic priorities in the region, which significantly impact political relations between nations. Its support for the Crimean Tatars and its pursuit of stability in the Black Sea underscore the importance of these issues within the context of its relations with both Russia and NATO. The consideration of historical conflicts and modern geopolitical challenges further illustrates how critical these matters are for regional security and international politics as a whole.