Turkey's Erdogan deliberately arranged a diplomatic humiliation during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He had Blinken and his subordinates sit below, while he sat alone on a high place, without the American flag yet unplaced. This move has aroused widespread concern and criticism from the international community. Why did Erdogan do this?
Erdogan's diplomatic strategy
Erdogan's diplomatic strategy of confronting the United States with a tough posture is to confront the United States with a tough posture and safeguard Turkey's national interests and regional influence. He believes that U.S. policy in the Middle East is unfair, biased in favor of Israel and ignores the rights and suffering of Palestinians.
He also accused the United States of supporting Kurdish forces in Syria and threatening Turkey's security and territorial integrity. He also established close cooperative relations with Russia, Iran and other countries in an attempt to break the hegemony of the United States in the Middle East. His diplomatic strategy reflects his nationalist and Islamist ideas, and has also won support and adherence within Turkey.
Blinken's diplomatic mission
De-escalating tensions in the Middle EastBlinken's diplomatic mission is to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, promote a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and restore U.S. leadership and credibility in the Middle East. Prior to his visit to Turkey, he had already visited Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, Cyprus and Iraq to coordinate and communicate with local leaders on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He plans to stress to the Turkish side the importance of protecting the lives of civilians in Israel and the Gaza Strip, as well as the need for continued humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. He also plans to discuss with the Turkish side the need for transatlantic security in Europe, continued support for Ukraine, and maintaining NATO unity, including the approval of Sweden's accession to NATO.
The root causes of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
The root cause of the 100-year-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a century-old historical grudge involving complex issues such as ethnicity, religion, territory, and refugees. Since the end of the 19th century, Jews have begun to return to the Palestinian areas, where they have clashed with the Arabs.
In 1917, Britain's Balfour Declaration promised to establish a Jewish national home in Palestine, sparking Arab opposition. In 1947, the United Nations adopted a resolution to divide Palestine into two states, but the Arab countries rejected it. In 1948, Israel declared independence, and the first Middle East war broke out.
Since then, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has continued, and it has been difficult for the two sides to reach consensus on issues such as territory, the status of Jerusalem, and the return of Palestinian refugees. The international community has tried its mediation and good offices on several occasions, but has failed to make substantial progress.
America's diplomatic dilemma
The diplomatic dilemma of the United States is that it has lost its voice and influence in the Middle East and is unable to effectively deal with various crises and challenges in the Middle East. U.S. policy in the Middle East has always been to protect Israel's security and interests as its primary goal, but this has also led to U.S. alienation and confrontation from Arab countries and the Islamic world.
The U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not only caused huge losses in human and material resources, but also triggered anti-American sentiment and violent activities in the region. The US policy in Syria is also in a dilemma: it can neither support the Assad regime nor the opposition. The US policy on the Iranian nuclear issue has also met with opposition and resistance from Iran and other countries.
America's allies in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, etc., no longer completely obey the instructions and arrangements of the United States, but cooperate or confront other countries according to their own interests and judgments. The status and role of the United States in the Middle East are not as good as before.
Prospects for peace in the Middle East
The prospect of peace in the Middle East requires multilateral cooperation and coordination, not on the efforts and sacrifices of one or a few parties. The problems in the Middle East are complex, involving the interests and demands of many countries and regions, and there is no simple solution.
The problems of the Middle East are also global issues, affecting world peace and stability and requiring the attention and participation of the international community. The problems of the Middle East need to be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, not through force and sanctions. The problems of the Middle East need to be built through respect and understanding, not through accusations and hostility.
The problems of the Middle East require development and prosperity through sharing and reciprocity, not through competition and dispossession. The problems of the Middle East need to promote harmony and solidarity through inclusion and pluralism, not through exclusion and homogeneity. The problems of the Middle East need to adapt to the times and trends through innovation and change, not through conservatism and rigidity.
Conclusion
The Future of the Middle East: The Future of the Middle East Depends on Our Choices and ActionsThe future of the Middle East depends on our choices and actions, not on fate. We can choose to continue to immerse ourselves in the grievances and conflicts of the past, or we can choose to let go of the baggage and prejudices of history and move towards a future of peace and cooperation. We can choose to continue to listen to external interference and command, or we can choose to formulate our own policies and lines according to our own needs and aspirations. Blinken