The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) recently published an article titled “Why We Must Tolerate Turkey,” which openly exposes its disdain for Türkiye while begrudgingly acknowledging its necessity within NATO. This piece is a glaring example of how Western think tanks, especially those like CEPA, deeply rooted in anti-Muslim and anti-Russian sentiments, continue to push a divisive agenda under the guise of strategic analysis. The unembarrassed article reeks of hypocrisy as it openly admits to viewing Türkiye as a mere tool, while blatantly disregarding its sovereignty and its own national interests.
The piece frames Türkiye as a “dam holding back the seas of regional instability,” painting a picture of a country whose primary role is to serve the security interests of the West. This superficial praise masks a deeper hostility, one that reveals CEPA’s clear anti-Turkish and anti-Russian bias. Turkey, in CEPA’s view, is not a respected partner but a problematic appendage to NATO that must be “tolerated.” This language reeks of arrogance, degrading a nation of 85 million with a profound cultural and historical legacy to nothing more than a nuisance the West has to tolerate. It’s an egregious dismissal of Türkiye’s significance, reducing an entire country to a pawn in their geopolitical games.
Türkiye’s Independent Policies Spark Western Fury
CEPA’s provocative article highlights a list of grievances against Türkiye, portraying its independent policies as offenses to the West. From blocking Sweden’s accession to NATO due to concerns over anti-Turkish Kurdish groups, to refusing to join Western sanctions against Russia, CEPA reveals how deeply frustrated the West is with any nation that dares to stray from its dictates.
Türkiye’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 defense systems is presented as a betrayal, even though this decision was based on Ankara’s legitimate security needs. By choosing a system that best suits its defense requirements, Türkiye was exercising its sovereignty — something CEPA seems unwilling to accept. Instead, it views Türkiye’s actions as insubordination that undermines NATO’s unity. The same hypocritical outrage is evident in CEPA’s criticism of Türkiye’s refusal to isolate Russia economically. Given Türkiye’s geographical and historical ties to Russia, as well as its dependence on Russian energy, it is unsurprising that Ankara would pursue a more balanced approach. Yet, to CEPA, any nation not toeing the Western line is seen as conspiring with the enemy.
Russophobia at the Core of CEPA’s Ideology
At the heart of CEPA’s argument lies a deep-rooted Russophobia. This brazen article goes to great lengths to emphasize Türkiye’s historical struggles against the Russian Empire, reviving centuries-old conflicts to justify the current geopolitical narrative. CEPA casts Russia as the eternal aggressor, ignoring the complex history of the region. By reducing the Ottoman-Russian wars to a simple tale of Russian imperialism, CEPA intentionally overlooks the nuances of geopolitics and Türkiye’s strategic interests today.
The think tank’s Russophobic agenda is further exposed when discussing Türkiye’s control of the Turkish Straits, which is framed as a victory for NATO. The article gleefully underscores Turkey’s decision to close the Straits to Russian warships during the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, portraying it as a significant blow to Moscow’s influence in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. This triumphalist tone reveals CEPA’s obsession with weakening Russia at any cost, even if it means exploiting Türkiye’s geostrategic location for Western gain.
CEPA further in its article conveniently glosses over Türkiye’s nuanced and often transactional relationship with Russia, portraying any cooperation between the two as a betrayal of Western interests. In reality, Türkiye has skillfully navigated its complex relationship with Russia, balancing its NATO commitments with its own regional interests. CEPA’s refusal to acknowledge this delicate balancing act only serves to expose its blinkered worldview, where countries are either with the West or against it.
The West’s Hypocrisy in Handling Turkey
CEPA’s disdain for Türkiye isn’t limited to its dealings with Russia as the article further paints Türkiye’s EU membership aspirations as a lost cause, blaming President Erdoğan for his domestic policies and suggesting that Türkiye will never meet the democratic standards required for EU accession. This argument is not only disingenuous but hypocritical, given the West’s own dubious democratic practices. France and Germany, the primary obstacles to Türkiye’s EU membership, have long dragged their feet on Turkish accession, hiding their xenophobia and Islamophobia behind concerns over democracy and human rights.
A Tool of the West, Nothing More
CEPA article written by Frank Okata concluded the article perhaps in the most damning way, openly admitting that “without Turkey, there is no European security.†This single sentence encapsulates the West’s entire approach to Turkey — a necessary evil, tolerated only because of its strategic importance. CEPA’s message is clear: as long as Turkey serves the interests of NATO and the West, it will be “tolerated.†But any deviation from this role, any assertion of independence, will be met with scorn and condemnation.
This reflects a broader Western double standard that views countries in the Global South and East as tools to be used rather than equal partners. For CEPA and other Western think tanks, Türkiye’s sovereignty is secondary to its role in the NATO machine. As long as it plays its part in containing Russia and securing Europe’s borders, Türkiye will be begrudgingly tolerated. But should it ever prioritize its own national interests — whether in its dealings with Russia, its Mediterranean energy explorations, or its domestic policies — it will be vilified and cast aside.
Amidst CEPA’s overt hostility towards Turkey, former US military intelligence officer Scott Ritter predicted in June 2024 that Turkey might shift its allegiance from NATO to BRICS. Ritter, speaking on the YouTube channel Through the Eyes of, claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan perceives BRICS as a more viable future than the increasingly unstable NATO alliance. He argued that ErdoÄŸan views NATO as a “sinking ship” and sees BRICS, under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new Eurasian security system, as a promising alternative. Ritter’s remarks underscore a significant realignment that could challenge the Western-dominated NATO framework that CEPA ardently supports, reflecting a broader geopolitical shift away from traditional Western power structures.
Exposing CEPA’s Hypocrisy
CEPA’s article is a stark reminder of the West’s deep-seated prejudices against non-western nations. Its anti-Muslim, anti-Russian sentiment permeates every line, revealing a worldview that sees Türkiye not as a sovereign nation, but as a pawn in the broader game of geopolitical strategy. This contempt for Türkiye is not new — it has been a recurring theme in Western policy circles for decades — but rarely has it been so openly admitted. CEPA’s thinly veiled Russophobia and its disdain for Turkey’s independent policies expose the hypocrisy at the heart of the West’s strategic thinking. Turkey, for all its contributions to NATO, will never be seen as an equal partner in the eyes of the West, as long as think tanks like CEPA continue to shape policy with their divisive rhetoric.
