In an exclusive interview by CNN ahead of the presidential election runoff in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the “special” and growing relationship between Turkey and Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the two countries need each other “in every field possible”.
Despite mounting pressure on Ankara to support Western sanctions against Moscow, Erdoğan emphasised that Turkey is not at a point where it would impose such sanctions, stating that they are not bound by the West’s decisions.
“The West is not leading a very balanced approach,” Erdoğan told CNN on Friday. “You need a balanced approach towards a country such as Russia, which would have been a much more fortunate approach.”
The Turkish presidential race, heading to a runoff vote on 28 May, has seen Erdoğan as the apparent frontrunner, while his main rival, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, holds divergent views on foreign policy, including relations with the West and Russia. Kılıçdaroğlu recently adopted a more critical stance toward the Kremlin, accusing Russia of meddling in Turkey’s election and threatening to strain the relationship between the two nations.
In contrast, Erdoğan has reaffirmed his commitment to his relationship with Putin and accused his rival of seeking to detach Turkey from Russia. The trade volume between Russia and Turkey amounts to $62 billion annually, and Erdoğan’s close ties with Putin have raised concerns among Western allies.
Sweden’s potential NATO membership
During the interview, Erdoğan also addressed another source of tension between Turkey and the West: Sweden’s potential NATO membership.
“We cannot view Sweden’s NATO membership favourably as long as they continue to provide a safe haven for terrorist groups affiliated with Turkey,” he said, adding that Turkey is currently “not ready for Sweden.”
Both Finland and Sweden submitted formal applications to join NATO in May 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. However, Turkey and Hungary strongly opposed the Nordic countries’ membership requests.
Turkey rejected the bids of Finland and Sweden, citing their alleged support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and the People’s Protection Units (YPG). Although Turkey eventually approved Finland’s membership in March, the country continues to hinder Sweden’s progress.
Regarding his relationship with the United States, Erdoğan criticised President Joe Biden for referring to him as an “autocrat”. He questioned whether a dictator would participate in a runoff election, suggesting that such labels are unfounded.
Presidential race
As the Turkish presidential race unfolds, Erdoğan remains optimistic and expressed confidence in his people’s support. He secured a lead over Kılıçdaroğlu in the first round of the election and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) obtained a parliamentary majority. Erdoğan believes that the strong performance of his party in the parliamentary contest will boost his chances in the presidential runoff, emphasising the importance of stability and confidence for voters.
The election is seen as a critical moment for Turkish democracy, with opposition groups uniting in an attempt to challenge Erdoğan’s rule. The opposition accuses Erdoğan of undermining democratic institutions during his two-decade-long reign, weakening the judiciary and suppressing dissent. Erdoğan’s economic policies and response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey have also been points of contention.
The Turkish Supreme Electoral Council announced the final results of the 14 May parliamentary elections on Friday, however, suspicions of electoral fraud are still growing. Serious concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of approximately 20,000 ballot boxes, involving an estimated 4.2 million voters, according to a study by the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP). These ballot boxes have drawn attention due to the alarmingly high percentages of votes cast, creating suspicions about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.
