21.01.2022, Moscow.
Turkologist, senior researcher at Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Avatkov assessed the possibility of Turkey creating the armed forces of the Organization of Turkic States on his Telegram-channel on January 21.
According to him, the idea of creating a military force within the Organization of Turkic States has long been discussed. The very idea of common armed forces, according to him, was in the air even before the Organization of Turkic States was created.
“This is largely due to the fact that within the framework of Turkocentric integration, where Turkey is the center of attraction of the ‘Turkic world’ and considers itself as ‘the only true Turks’, there is a lack of a power component. At the same time, there are no problems with joint projects in the economic, political and scientific, and educational spheres,” Avatkov believes.
However, according to him, there was one serious problem that prevented the idea from being implemented quickly.
“The absence of a power bloc was due to the fact that Turkey is wary and respectful of Russia as a military power and therefore does not risk forming common armed forces with post-Soviet countries,” the expert said.
However, according to him, the January events in Kazakhstan have caused a discussion in the Turkish opposition and ruling circles about Ankara’s passivity against the background of the past events. Avatkov writes that many experts in Turkey called on the authorities to initiate the creation of a joint security system with some of the Central Asian countries.
Avatkov believes that there is already a certain base for such a project, as even before the events in Kazakhstan, Turkey has started to actively work with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies of Turkic countries. He recalled how Ankara sent its advisers, supplied weapons and trained personnel in Turkey.
“However, these efforts are not enough – so there is no need to speak about the possible ousting of Russia from the military-strategic sphere of Turkic states of the post-Soviet space even in theory. At the same time, Turkey’s activation in this direction is obvious, as well as the fact that Ankara will continue to pursue its efforts [in this direction] in the future,” the Turkologist concluded.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
