Turkey he said “yes” to Sweden joining NATOeither because the Turkish president was persuaded by Sweden or the US, from which he received a lot of pressure from both Biden who called the Turkish president and Blinken who constantly called Fidan.

As SKAI correspondent Manolis Kostidis reports from Istanbulfor now it doesn’t seem like Turkey has gotten anything in return.

Sweden, on the one hand, simply said that it would support Turkey’s EU accession effort, but the Commission made it clear that the things are not related to each other, as in order for a country to enter the EU it must show certain things and Turkey had not done any preparation for the EU.

What does Turkey expect in return?

In Turkey they say that Erdoğan will visit the White House in 2023 and that there is pressure on Menendez now not to say anything against Turkey and to pass the sale of F-16s.

Today the Turks are waiting for some statement to be made by Biden about Turkey and for the invitation to Erdoğan to go to the USA to be made official.

Erdogan: Open Turkey’s way to the EU. We are not just any country

Before departing for Vilnius, Erdogan gave a press conference in which he addressed Turkey’s intention to join the EU:

“I would like to highlight one fact in particular and this is this: At this moment there is a Turkey that has been waiting at the door of the European Union for more than 50 years. At this moment almost all NATO member states are members of the European Union. I am addressing the states that have had Turkey waiting at the gates of Europe for more than 50 years and I will also address Vilnius. First, open the way for Turkey to the European Union, then let us open the way for Sweden, as we have opened it for Finland. I also used these expressions on Mr. Biden last night. And I have to make the said statement in Vilnius because I also believe that our nation has expectations from us, we can’t stand it anymore, more than 50 years have passed. We are Turkey, we are not a meddling country.”

With this statement, Erdoğan partially changed the foreign agenda of his country, since from where he was talking about the burning of the Koran in Sweden, he talked about Turkey’s accession to the EU.

Erdogan: Since they have the Congress, we also have our National Assembly

Now, the Turkish president throws the ball at the Congress as well, stressing that we also have the National Assembly, which can “block” the “yes” he said for Sweden’s accession, just like the “yes” he says Biden to Turkey but Congress blocks F-16 sale:

“As you know, the final decision will be taken by our National Assembly. Without the decision of our National Assembly we cannot take any step. As for the F-16, they keep telling us that ‘this has to go through Congress’. Well, since they have the Congress and we have our National Assembly! If it doesn’t pass the National Assembly, we can’t say ‘I said it and it happened’. Okay;”.

Turkish media: US removes Turkish flags from F-35s and gives them to Greece

At the same time in Turkey, the media are annoyed with the equipment of Greece, stressing that the US is removing the Turkish flags from the F-35s they have paid for and giving them to Greece.

Characteristically, the journalist on the TV network SOZCU TV reported: “President Erdogan said that ‘if you take us to the EU. and we will sign for Sweden’. But in reality, even the children of this country know that they will not accept us in the EU. Some step could be taken for the liberalization of visas and the free movement of citizens, or the updating of the customs union. There is the promise of Sweden! If we believe them. Also tonight there will be a meeting with Joe Biden. The issue of F-16s will be discussed. We have given 1.5 billion dollars and they remain there. They erased the Turkish flags that were on the F-35s and there is a claim that the specific fighters will be given to Greece. Having brought her to us in this way, we are now trying to develop our relationships. Our foreign policy, with this presidential system, is judged by a single person.”

Everything is ready for the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting

As for tomorrow’s meeting between Erdogan and Mitsotakis, it is expected to take place with a few people at the table.

The developments in Vilnius change the facts as Mitsotakis will have an Erdogan who complies with NATO and does not talk about revisionism.

There will be a meeting between Mitsotakis-Erdogan and also between the Foreign Ministers Gerapetritis-Fidan, while at the negotiating table will be Erdoğan’s chief foreign policy adviser Cagatay Kilic and the director of the Prime Minister’s diplomatic office Anna Maria Bura.

The meeting will focus on the continental shelf but also on building trusting relationships.