Turkey’s time has come

Telegraph View: Turkey’s strategic value to the West cannot be overstated

One has only to look at Turkey’s geographical location, wedged between the prosperous, democratic nations of the West and the turbulent, predominantly Muslim regions that lie further east, to understand why President Obama chose Ankara as his first port of call in the Islamic world since his election.

It is not just that Turkey, a long-standing and valued member of the Nato alliance, acts as a strategic bulwark against any possible threat emanating from the east, whether resurgent Russian nationalism or Iranian-style fundamentalism. It is also because the continued support of this relatively moderate, secular state is seen by many in the West as crucial to the success of coalition efforts to effect a similar outcome in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. But the disinclination of several leading European powers, notably France and Germany, to give serious consideration to Turkey’s bid for full membership of the European Union risks alienating Turkish support at a time when it is most needed.

Devotees of deeper European integration such as President Sarkozy oppose Turkish membership on the grounds that the accession of a Muslim nation would fundamentally undermine the EU’s Western identity and culture. Consequently, they have raised numerous objections, ranging from Ankara’s refusal to acknowledge the Armenian genocide of the First World War to its dubious human rights record, to keep its application on hold.

But as Mr Obama pointed out in his speech yesterday to the Turkish parliament, by adopting such underhand tactics the EU is wasting a valuable opportunity to build a broader relationship with a valued Muslim ally – one that is based on mutual interest and respect.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/5115953/Turkeys-time-has-come.html