Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is coming to Athens on Thursday with proposals for a “new page” and “Kazan – Kazan”.

According to what he broadcasts from Istanbul, o Manolis Kostidisthe aim is to sign agreements on refugee issues and the European path.

The two leaders are meeting with the aim of continuing the good climate that has been achieved between the two countries in recent times.

Although the expectations for developments on the serious issues are low, there are still issues that can be resolved so that bilateral relations can go a step further and both countries win, such as refugee and visa issues.

If such agreements are reached then it will be a win-win visit.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry: “Turkey should host Hamas terrorists. We will expel them from Gaza”

Ankara says that “Israel is an occupying power. The more he oppresses, the more resistance he will face.”

Israel’s Minister of Internal Security replied: “We will go after Hamas in Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar.”

Turkish analysts note that “the Eurofighters are good, but our first choice should be the F-16s”.

Problems with equipment

“Turkey should set up a new training and maintenance system for Eurofighters”.

“Let me explain something to you, since we were blocked from the F-35, Turkey asked for the new version of the F-16. The difference with the old F-16s is this.. the old F-16s are like old tube TVs while the ones we are asking for are like high definition TVs.

Yes the Eurofighter is equal to the F-16. But it’s not 5th generation, it’s 4.5 generation.

Ok let me ask a question. It is an alternative to the market. As we have neither trained pilots, nor their training system, nor their maintenance. I don’t see much sense in this Eurofighter purchase.

Maybe the Eurofighter is slightly better, but we must not give up on the F-16 and we must get them.”

Pessimism about Turkish foreign and defense policy

A Turkish analyst commented: “We have a Gordian bond with Sweden, the F-16s, the Eurofighters, the US, Israel, Gaza.”

“Either Fidan will solve him or it will take an Alexander to cut him off”

Political analyst Murat Yetkin commented: “Even if Ankara approves Sweden’s NATO membership, it is not certain that the Joe Biden administration will be able to overcome the congressional hurdle before the November 2024 presidential election. Turkey’s bid to persuade Germany to buy Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, co-produced by Germany, England, Spain and Italy (in order to really close the gap on NATO’s southern flank), was held with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on 17 November. It doesn’t seem to be on the table right now with the Israel-Hamas war involving the Holocaust.

The Gaza crisis, Sweden’s entry into NATO and Turkey’s purchases of warplanes for its defense are all interconnected. If Fidan doesn’t break the Gordian bond, it will take an Alexander to break the Gordian bond.”