Turkey - US Conundrum: S – 400 issue Now is the time to find a face-saving solution for all sides
N. Murat Ersavcı
06 March 2022
The brutal attack of Putin’s Russia on Ukraine and on its courageous people has shocked the civilized World. In the light of the flagrant violation of international rules and norms by Russia, many countries supported Ukraine, though initially, it did not really amount to much. However, on the other hand, one country, NATO member Turkey, has done more for Ukraine than most others. This was done despite being at great risk to itself.
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Turkey's economy is like a sailing ship, going wherever the winds blow it
Güven Sak, PhD
26 January 2022
When it comes to the Turkish economy, it has always been best to take the long view. Have a look at the economic transformation of the country right after the customs union arrangement with the European Union. The country has transformed from a sleepy agrarian country to a mid-tech industrial one. This was a remarkable achievement, and it is the great shift that defined my generation.
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A different Afghanistan, a different Taliban?
Güven Sak, PhD
30 November 2021
Remember Charlie Wilson’s War? Tom Hanks is playing the infamous Congressman who singlehandedly increased US funding for the Afghan mujahedeen in their fight against the Soviet Union. Apparently, Wilson increased it from $5 million to $500 million, with Saudi Arabia matching him dollar-to-dollar. Not bad.
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Why transition to climate neutrality is more complex than you think
Güven Sak, PhD
12 October 2021
If you jump to 2050 directly from today, economic models indicate that the world will be fine. Technology and economic growth eventually even out the earth’s population, there’s plenty of jobs and we’re not destroying the ecosystem too badly anymore. The problem lies in the 28 years in between. It’s all about the transition to climate neutrality.
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China and Turkey after 9/11
Güven Sak, PhD
21 September 2021
I was in my Office at the Central Bank of Turkey, preparing for a meeting with the IMF team when the first plane hit the Twin Towers. So much has changed since, and the most important aspect of it has nothing to do with the so-called “war on terror” that started afterwards.
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Is the transformative power of Europe back?
Güven Sak, PhD
13 September 2021
Enlargement used to be the superpower of Europe. It was like the reverse of migration – instead of individuals leaving their countries and moving to Europe, it moved Europe to them. If your country accepted the Acquis, Europe was telling you that it was going to help transform your country into a European version of itself. This was a kind of empire building by consent. Then Europe lost both its interest and its ability to transform its neighbors.
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The Problem with Afghan Reconstruction
Güven Sak, PhD
24 August 2021
After spending around $40 billion a year, the Americans have realized the futility of their efforts in nation building in Afghanistan. Nothing much has changed in the country during their twenty years trying to tame it. Afghanistan’s people still do not define themselves as Afghans, but rather as Pashtun, Tajik or Uzbek. So it’s time to “liquidate unsound positions” as George F. Kennan said about Vietnam. But why now?
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Afghanistan, but without the Americans
Güven Sak, PhD
15 August 2021
In April, President Biden announced his decision to leave Afghanistan. He was ending America’s “forever wars” in order to focus on what the Department of Defense calls a “near-peer adversary,” by which it means China. So no more counterinsurgency. No more street battles, no more winning “hearts and minds.”
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Confronting disaster statelessly
Güven Sak, PhD
08 August 2021
Beirutis are no strangers to earth-shattering explosions. Stories of airstrikes, even car bombs will not be too rare among the city’s inhabitants. Yet there is an unusual amount of anger and frustration among the Lebanese when it comes to the blast in Beirut port a year ago. Why?
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Good for Europe, bad for the rest?
Güven Sak, PhD
01 August 2021
The Green Deal was first announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in December 2019. This “jobs and growth agenda for Europe” was the talk of the town in Brussels. “They can’t do it” was the talk of the town in Ankara. It simply seemed too radical, too disruptive.
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