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Comment by chadmeister | Hacker News Reader

What is most interesting about this is the geopolitics surrounding this. The US stance appears to be pushing Turkey closer to Russia. [1]

1. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-08-14/erdogan-i...

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I see them emerging as Russia's Italy - look at how Germany and Italy treated each other in 1934 vs. 1938.

Turkey can't change geography. They have to deal with Russia since Russia has interests in the region and a long, long history there. They also have to deal with Iran, Turkey can't start trouble with Iran each time USA /EU decide to. In the end, US /EU can cut a deal and Turkey remains on horrible terms with a neighbor.

Russia is a bad, bad partner. They have no money (compared to the West) and really no tech. They have cool weapons and oil though but are unreliable there too...

They also have a 'lively' border with Syria to add to their concerns.

I am not sure how much they see the border with Syria as a concern or an opportunity to expand. Isn't Turkey currently occupying Syrian land?

Depends on whether you consider Daesh and YPG the owners of Syria. While Europe went crazy not to take in more than a few hundred thousand refugees who were desperately trying to escape death, Erdoğan accepted more than 3 million although many Turks didn't want them. I think the primary thing that counts here is that the lives of the millions of people are now saved.

> Depends on whether you consider Daesh and YPG the owners of Syria.

Is Erdogan the owner of Turkey or are Turks the owners of Turkey? Are Kurds the owners of Kurdistan or are YPG or Assad or Daesh or Erdogan the owners of Kurdistan?

Turkey has always been the bridge to the Middle East. I think it would be a big loss to lose that.

Well, since 1453.

What happened in 1453?

The fall of Constantinople.

Gotta read up some history it seems. Thanks!

Or perhaps we can finally disentangle ourselves from that region with an electrified vehicle fleet?

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