Erdogan shouldn't be expected to live up to Western expectations. Turkey is the most reasonable middle eastern actor (despite also being in Europe) and they have had decades of war at their borders. It's pretty difficult to run a country when most of your potential trading partners are fighting amongst each other.
I'm not saying him or his government is perfect, but I genuinely think he does care for Turkey. I don't agree with how he goes after certain parts of the population but he has steady hands nonetheless which is an underrated quality of his.
I think he cares for Turkey à la Ottoman Empire moreso than a wannabe Mustafa Kemel Atatürk.
Which is why your compliments are valid, but perhaps because they aren't too democratic in the methods used to achieve them and thus, valid but not good.
31
u/Chilifille Jul 13 '24
Weird to see Erdogan as the voice of reason, but I’ll take it. Even though he is a massive hypocrite.
Free Ukraine, Palestine and Kurdistan!