New Delhi: Turkey has performed a harmful double sport. This time, not solely with India however with Russia as nicely. Ankara secretly armed Ukraine with lethal Bayraktar TB2 drones, which Kyiv used to destroy at the least 40 Russian fighter jets final week, even whereas publicly sustaining ties with the Kremlin.
This army assist got here at a time when Turkey was giving Russian vacationers and corporations a protected haven by defying Western sanctions. However behind the scenes, it was additionally cozying as much as the USA and the NATO.
Analysts consider the drone provide was Turkey’s manner of profitable factors with Washington, even when it meant placing a knife in Putin’s again.
Drone Diplomacy or Deception?
The Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 has turn into one of many world’s most deadly fight drones. It’s modern in design and lethal in execution and may perform each precision strikes and surveillance.
Ukraine obtained 72 drones between 2019 and 2022. Turkey allegedly despatched eight extra items after the conflict started.
These drones have allowed Ukraine to hold out devastating assaults deep inside Russian territory and injury or destroy greater than 40 Russian army plane.
Why is Turkey Doing This?
Consultants counsel Turkey’s actual motive lies not in serving to Ukraine win the conflict however in pleasing the USA and NATO. As a NATO member, Turkey always faces strain from the West to chop ties with Moscow.
Supplying drones gave it a method to seem loyal to the alliance, even whereas pretending to be impartial within the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mockingly, this is similar Turkey that has opposed Western sanctions towards Russia, saved its airspace open to Russian vacationers and allowed Russian companies to relocate to Turkish soil.
Russia Feels Betrayed
For Moscow, the drone revelation is nothing in need of a betrayal. Kremlin officers have reportedly referred to as it a “stab within the again”. Russia now sees Turkey’s diplomatic double-speak as a strategic menace.
President Putin, who had maintained a working relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regardless of geopolitical variations, is alleged to be livid over Ankara’s duplicity.
In the meantime, Turkey is trying to place itself as a mediator within the world area, claiming it needs peace whereas arming one facet in a conflict.
Belief Misplaced on All Fronts
This newest episode has additionally broken Turkey’s standing with India. New Delhi has lengthy suspected Ankara of siding with Pakistan on Kashmir, and this contemporary betrayal of Russia, an in depth Indian protection ally, solely provides to the distrust.
In making an attempt to play all sides, Muslim world “chief”, Western ally and “impartial” peace dealer, Turkey could find yourself dropping the belief of all. As world tensions rise, Ankara’s balancing act is trying much less like diplomacy and extra like deception.
Regardless of overt ties with Russia, Turkey’s covert assist to Ukraine has uncovered a significant fault line in world diplomacy. For India and Russia, this may occasionally function a warning that Erdogan’s Turkey is not a dependable companion.