Who is the Best Security Partner Alternative for Turkey: The European Union or Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?
The European Parliament decision to suspend enlargement negotiations with Turkey until the end of emergency law seems to be a new stalemate between Turkey and the EU. After the Lisbon Treaty, increasing influence of the Parliament over the Council and the Commission indicates that it will not be easy for the Council to ignore the Parliament's decision. If the European Council supports the Parliament's decision in the near future, this will jeopardize fluctuating relations between Turkey and the EU. If that scenario comes true, we may see Turkey seeking new partners in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that has been expressed often in recent months by senior Turkish politicians.
Shifting Turkey's direction from West to East has not been voiced seriously since 1998, after Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz disappointed when he did not see Turkey's name on enlargement countries. Nevertheless, when the EU add Turkey's name to prospective candidate countries a year later, this discussion put on shelf and never appeared until these days.
After the bloody coup attempt, hesitation of Western Governments to condemn this event and being late to share their solidarity with Turkish Government were very disappointing for Turkish Authorities. Since then, being a member of the Shanghai Five promoted as a better option for Turkey's political future by Government Circles and according to President Erdogan, Turkey could be more comfortable if it joins the SCO by getting rid of the EU's democratic leverage.
Despite the fact that we do not have enough information whether President Erdogan is bluffing or what he intends to do with this choice, the future benefits provided by the SCO to Turkey unfortunately questionable.
After the bloody coup attempt, hesitation of Western Governments to condemn this event and being late to share their solidarity with Turkish Government were very disappointing for Turkish Authorities. Since then, being a member of the Shanghai Five promoted as a better option for Turkey's political future by Government Circles and according to President Erdogan, Turkey could be more comfortable if it joins the SCO by getting rid of the EU's democratic leverage.
Despite the fact that we do not have enough information whether President Erdogan is bluffing or what he intends to do with this choice, the future benefits provided by the SCO to Turkey unfortunately questionable.
As we look back to the SCO's founding story, this organisation become functional after 9/11 attacks as a reaction to the increasing influence of the US in the region nearby the Afghanistan. Expansion of the US influence in the Central Asia under the name of humanitarian action made uncomfortable both Russia and China. The US intervention perceived as an existential threat by both countries. Therefore, they allied under the SCO not to lose their control in their zone of influence.
In comparison to the EU, the SCO built upon cooperation rather than unification. The main aim of the organisation has been improving cooperation among member countries in the field of security, transportation, economy and telecommunication. Self-interest is always priority among SCO members. Setting democratic governance standards are out of its mandate due to they are considered intervention to national sovereignty of member states.
In consideration of Turkey's affiliation, SCO does not require Turkey be a democratic country. They only concern enhancing business and security cooperation with Turkey and looking forward to seeing Turkey next to them against the the Western Coalition. If Turkish state authorities are desiring their country to be remembered with multi-billion transportation, construction and national defense projects, SCO is right place to be. This will make Turkish citizens in the near future like many Central Asian citizens who are proud of their countries missiles rather than their individual freedoms and wealth.
Being member of the SCO also does not guarantee better security cooperation between Turkey and SCO countries. Security dynamics between these countries built upon benefits and sharing solidarity among member states less likely seen whilst fighting against global terrorism. One of the evidences that indicates self-interest of member states is designated terrorist organisation lists of these countries. As Russian and Chinese proscribed terrorist organisation lists are compared, both countries have no concerns about their allies terrorist threats. They only proscribe terrorist organisation, if they pose threat against them.
In view of Turkey's terror threats, both countries have no common threat perception with Turkey. Their designated terrorist organisation lists disregards terrorist groups those create significant security threat for Turkey. For instance, The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has not been designated by both countries despite they are aware of Turkey's long term sufferings. Moreover, the PKK's Syrian branch People's Protection Unit's (YPG) seems receiving both political and armory support from Russia despite Russia and Turkey are in intimate relationship in recent days more than ever before.
On the other hand, despite its many inconsistencies towards Turkey, the EU is much reliable partner for Turkey. It's reliability based on its rule of law standards those are not only applicable to its member countries, but also for the third countries who sign agreements with the Union. If Turkey can improve its democracy as equal to the EU standards and transform its undemocratic reputation (that deteriorated it recent years), no institution in the EU can refuse Turkey's security related demands based on these agreements. All terror suspects can extradite to Turkey without any hesitation of European Judges due to they trust on Turkish Judicial System.
If Turkish Authorities prefer securitization of all national/international matters and blaming its counterparts rather than focusing their democratic shortcomings, they will less likely extradite terror suspects who are inhabiting both in the EU and the US. If shifting Turkey's direction to SCO is considered alternative to the EU, Turkish Policy Makers should rethink that whether SCO members could fill this gap, who generally seek their self-interest and not often share solidarity with their allies in security matters.
In comparison to the EU, the SCO built upon cooperation rather than unification. The main aim of the organisation has been improving cooperation among member countries in the field of security, transportation, economy and telecommunication. Self-interest is always priority among SCO members. Setting democratic governance standards are out of its mandate due to they are considered intervention to national sovereignty of member states.
In consideration of Turkey's affiliation, SCO does not require Turkey be a democratic country. They only concern enhancing business and security cooperation with Turkey and looking forward to seeing Turkey next to them against the the Western Coalition. If Turkish state authorities are desiring their country to be remembered with multi-billion transportation, construction and national defense projects, SCO is right place to be. This will make Turkish citizens in the near future like many Central Asian citizens who are proud of their countries missiles rather than their individual freedoms and wealth.
Being member of the SCO also does not guarantee better security cooperation between Turkey and SCO countries. Security dynamics between these countries built upon benefits and sharing solidarity among member states less likely seen whilst fighting against global terrorism. One of the evidences that indicates self-interest of member states is designated terrorist organisation lists of these countries. As Russian and Chinese proscribed terrorist organisation lists are compared, both countries have no concerns about their allies terrorist threats. They only proscribe terrorist organisation, if they pose threat against them.
In view of Turkey's terror threats, both countries have no common threat perception with Turkey. Their designated terrorist organisation lists disregards terrorist groups those create significant security threat for Turkey. For instance, The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has not been designated by both countries despite they are aware of Turkey's long term sufferings. Moreover, the PKK's Syrian branch People's Protection Unit's (YPG) seems receiving both political and armory support from Russia despite Russia and Turkey are in intimate relationship in recent days more than ever before.
On the other hand, despite its many inconsistencies towards Turkey, the EU is much reliable partner for Turkey. It's reliability based on its rule of law standards those are not only applicable to its member countries, but also for the third countries who sign agreements with the Union. If Turkey can improve its democracy as equal to the EU standards and transform its undemocratic reputation (that deteriorated it recent years), no institution in the EU can refuse Turkey's security related demands based on these agreements. All terror suspects can extradite to Turkey without any hesitation of European Judges due to they trust on Turkish Judicial System.
If Turkish Authorities prefer securitization of all national/international matters and blaming its counterparts rather than focusing their democratic shortcomings, they will less likely extradite terror suspects who are inhabiting both in the EU and the US. If shifting Turkey's direction to SCO is considered alternative to the EU, Turkish Policy Makers should rethink that whether SCO members could fill this gap, who generally seek their self-interest and not often share solidarity with their allies in security matters.
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