Observer: Erdogan is a two-faced sultan who is no friend of the West

London, Thanasis Gavos

One of the most critical articles in the British press about Recep Tayyip Erdogan was written on Sunday by the Observer’s international affairs columnist Simon Tisdall, calling the Turkish President “a two-faced sultan who is no friend of the West”.

As he adds, that is why it is time for the West to toughen its stance, while pointing out the “increasingly hostile” attitude of Mr. Erdogan towards NATO and the democratic authorities, he comments that “it can no longer go unpunished”.

According to Mr. Tisdall, by taking advantage of the fixed position that Turkey is a “vital strategic ally”, President Erdogan is “betraying” Western interests. It therefore raises the question of whether the Turkish leader should be treated as a threat or even ostracized as an enemy.

He also notes that with his “aggressive, authoritarian, schismatic” policies, Mr. Erdogan has almost brought Turkey’s credibility and usefulness to an end.

The columnist lists as examples of this anti-Western and authoritarian Erdogan policy the blocking of Sweden’s accession to NATO, the disregard of sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, the showing of preference in Moscow over Western allies either in trade or in weapons systems, the planned invasion of northern Syria against the Kurds, occasional aggression against Greece, but also the “war” against democracy in Turkey, with human rights abuses, persecution of political opponents and with the economy in shambles.

In discussing what the West should do, the Observer columnist refers to the possibility of personal sanctions against Erdogan himself, but also a formal freeze on EU accession negotiations or even a suspension of NATO membership for Turkey.

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