“A while ago Erdogan described what he sees in Hakan Fidan, […] when he was still head of the Turkish intelligence service: “It’s my secret, locked box,” said the president. In other words, Erdogan’s black box, Turkey’s black box.

Hardly anyone should be as well-informed as Hakan Fidan about the country’s recent history – a period in which some interesting things have happened, such as the coup attempt or the war in Syria. All these years, since 2010, Fidan he was head of intelligence. That alone says something about him: apart from Erdogan himself and certain confidants of his, no one has recently held power for so long.

But Hakan Fidan stayed. Loyal servant of the president. Someone who probably understood early on that nothing matters more to a career in the Turkish public administration than Erdogan’s trust.”

But what is it about Fidan that Erdogan values? “Probably the way Fidan acts,” SZ surmises “Quietly, without projecting himself into the limelight. Before he became foreign minister, Turkey hardly knew Fidan’s voice. And today the diplomatic role suits him. It is said that this was always his goal. Unlike his predecessor, (s.s. Cavusoglu) Fidan does not make a fuss. On his regular trips, such as the recent one to Kiev, his counterparts praise him.

Now he traveled to Russia. […] Negotiations on Ukrainian grain exports, this diplomatic game, should suit Fidan. As well as everything that happens behind the scenes.”