Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slammed Finland and Sweden into NATO. Allegedly, the two countries would support the terrorists from the PKK. But secretly he’s just jealous, annoyed and increasingly angry.
We hear and read about Turkish President Erdogan every day, and he’s fine with that. He wants to draw attention to the fact that he is protesting against Sweden and Finland joining NATO in the political world and above all in his own country.
In business life, such types are called troublesome companions. They harass their partners with motions, delay meetings and hide behind board reservations.
Erdogan uses the rule that all 30 members of NATO must agree if a new partner wants to join the defense alliance. Each individual country therefore has a right of veto. The twelve founding members agreed on this in 1949.
Turkey was not one of them. When she joined the alliance in 1952, there was no serious opposition. She was a tremendous reinforcement.
With around 450,000 soldiers, it has the most armed forces after the USA.
A tiny partner is Luxembourg with almost 1000 volunteer soldiers.
The fact that Erdogan does not want to grant Sweden and Finland’s accession request has both open and hidden motives.
Officially, he raises the accusation that the two northerners support terrorist organizations that operate against his country.
Specifically, he gives examples against Sweden, but throws Finland in the pot. His primary concern is the PKK.
The Swedish and Finnish governments, which have been working closely together for years, agree that the Kurdish Workers’ Party is banned in their countries because it is on the EU’s terror list.
The PKK works underground in many countries, but probably less so in Sweden. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Istanbul, Germany and Belgium are more important operational countries for the PKK.
A serious conflict between Turkey and Sweden is the different understanding of tolerance. Erdogan is annoyed that Sweden is granting political asylum to Turkish citizens whom he would like to put in prison. Many supporters of the Gülen movement, whom he blames for the 2016 coup attempt, have fled to Sweden.
Some are politically active.
Erdogan would not reveal a second reason for his resentment. He is jealous. With growing anger he watches the speed with which the two countries are to be helped. His country’s application for EU membership will simmer for a long time.
It is reported from London that prisoner Boris Becker is whining. He is not satisfied with his cell and complains about the quantity and quality of the meals.
It’s no surprise that the incarcerated man misses the comforts of his life of luxury. Nevertheless, he has to come to terms with himself in prison. From prison films he can know what happens to rebels. I commend to him the example of a man he respects. Uli Hoeneß behaved fabulously during his detention. Fellow prisoners and guards were enthusiastic about the team player.
Although it is more difficult for a lone fighter than for a team player: The Wimbledon winner should emulate the world champion.
Just as Boris Becker misses his freedom, I miss him as a commentator at the French Open. He plays the role well.
