First published in Respekt.
Turkey is becoming ever more important in security terms — and Europe is thus overlooking the ever-increasing repression of the local opposition.
Many times it seemed that the alliance between the West and Turkey was hanging by a thread – and could snap at any moment. When, 10 years ago, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sought the chance to host one of the Nato summits in Istanbul, many European allies – including Germany, France, and Denmark – opposed the idea because of his undemocratic behaviour.
Such caution is now passé: Europeans no longer resist Turkey’s invitation, and the Nato meeting in Ankara began on Tuesday (7 July).
And that is a good thing – even though Erdoğan is still in power.
