BY YAVUZ GOKALP YILDIZ
AKSAM- Turkey is now the model, means and catalyst country of the strategies of both the US and the EU. Now there is a concept similar to the US’ Greater Middle Eastern Initiative (GME) called ‘Enlarged Europe.’ Behind this definition, there is the aim of cushioning the negative impact of the EU’s enlargement in new border areas, controlling those outside the EU through cheap diplomacy, and directing the new neighboring countries as part of European values. The Enlarged Europe project is based on a ‘Europeanizing Strategy,’ that means to, a) Spread legal and institutional responsibilities in accordance with the rules of the Council of Europe and the EU, b) Steer the formation of economic structures towards the EU’s interests, c) Harmonize identity, expectations and beliefs with EU policy. As the Union emphasized in its new security strategy document, its aim is to nip in the bud problems beyond its borders before they can lead to damage in the EU itself. The priorities of this strategy are the problems of refugees and illegal immigration. Certain circles believe that these problems can be solved through establishing close economic ties. The plan is to establish a Pan-European Free Trade Area (PEFTA) to be open to countries of Enlarged Europe and the Greater Middle East towards this end, thus expanding the territory of the euro.
The EU places great importance on the Mediterranean region as part of Enlarged Europe. The Europe-Mediterranean partnership began in 1995 with 15 European countries, and this way the EU attached the region to it economically and established lines of cooperation against such threats as terrorism, drugs and human smuggling. For the same purpose, NATO is dictating the Mediterranean Dialogue project on the region.
The EU’s security strategy shows Turkey as a part of Enlarged Europe. Discussions on Europeanizing are focusing on bringing Turkey closer to European values, the differences between the Turkish and European identities and the possibility of Turkey’s succeeding in its efforts to become an EU member. Considering the relations between the US & EU geopolitical initiatives, the EU is the actual actor in the Enlarged Europe and Washington is the dominating power in the GME. In this equation, Turkey is located on the border between the EU and US spheres of influence, that is, at the center of the GME and Enlarged Europe. Istanbul being chosen for the NATO summit is an indication of this. This situation is the requirement of Turkey’s role in terms of the Middle East issue. This role is the Eurasianizing strategy of the US versus the EU’s Europeanizing strategy.