It's not too often that the Grey Wolves make it into mainstream
news circles. The Turkish nationalist (and by all accounts) fascist movement
has often been utilised by the United States – especially during the Cold War.
There are many clear cases of US intelligence collaborating with the group.
But times have changed and once solid relationships are now
in a state of flux. Additionally an organisation like the Grey Wolves is large
enough that it is subject to factions forming and there are indications that
behind the scenes there's been a tug-of-war at work for control of it. This has
been exacerbated by the AKP-Gülen clash and Erdogan's additional fallout with
Washington.
It is not surprising to learn the paramilitary organisation
has been active in the Nagorno-Karabakh theatre. While Azerbaijan is not
directly under Ankara's control, the countries are in a close relationship and
few would question Turkey's substantial influence and interest in the country's
affairs. At one time this worked in concert with US interests which also extend
to Azerbaijan but again as the Washington-Ankara axis has been severely damaged
the Russian and Iranian factors loom large in the country's politics – not to
mention Baku's quiet but substantial relationship with Israel.
For the remaining Armenian population the establishment of
the Grey Wolves in the region serves as a serious warning and it indicates that
the campaign to fully recapture the region is far from over. The Wolves will
harass and do what they do best – function as a paramilitary strike force and
even death squad. They are the tip of the spear and given Armenia's virtual
collapse in the recent war, the leadership in Yerevan is going to be left
wondering if there aren't larger designs on Armenia proper. And yet such
designs can only go so far. While the Armenian state and population were
shocked that Russia did not come to their aid, it's highly unlikely that Moscow
will allow the nation to fall. This yet another reason why the tenuous
Turkish-Russian alliance is built on sand. They are not natural or historical
allies. It is only the circumstances of the geopolitical moment that have
brought them together. The US is likely to do all they can to pour fuel on the
fire and drive a wedge between Ankara and Moscow. Georgia is likely to play a role
in this and Tbilisi's role in the region and its relationship to Washington are
part of its own political struggles and upheaval.
In the past the Armenian-Christian angle was not one picked
up on by Evangelical media and lobbying groups. Yerevan was too close to
Moscow, even in the post-1991 era. Additionally the US was closely wed to
Turkey and backed its regional claims in narratives. Turkey's position within
NATO was and is that important. But given the shift, we're now finding more
attention being given to the ethnically Christian Armenians. But one thing is
striking, the coverage never acknowledges past US support for Turkish policy,
let alone organisations like the Grey Wolves and the role they have played in the
Turkish Deep State. And the media is certainly unaware or unwilling to report on
Washington's history with the group, a status that is now in a state of
uncertainty.*
In recent years the group has played a role in attacking
Chinese interests outside of China and they have a presence in Central Asia. At
least a faction of them (or an offshoot of the main group) is already playing a
role (and one likely to increase) in fomenting instability in Xinjiang. As a
Pan-Turkic organisation they have a definite interest in the plight of their
Uighur cousins. But given that control of the organisation is presently in a
state of flux, their present standing and activities in the region are
uncertain.
----
*Virtually everyone except perhaps State Department and
Pentagon mouthpieces acknowledges the existence of the Turkish Deep State which
was long closely wed to Washington. Other countries are allowed to have 'Deep
States' and such things are not viewed as falling into conspiracy-driven
thinking. The US is however, not allowed to have a Deep State. If you think
that one exists, then you believe the Earth is flat and that men haven't landed
on the moon. Sadly in recent years the evocation of this concept by the
Trumpite faction has largely muddied the waters and provided significant fuel
for those in the Establishment that wish to discredit the very notion.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/04/foreign-fighters-in-transcaucasia.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-grey-wolves-and-turkmen-brigades.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2017/03/deutsche-welle-dw-turkish-intelligence.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/02/pan-turkism-russia-china-and-tibet.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/07/theres-something-rotten-in-istanbul-and.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2019/04/orlandi-and-vatican-scandals-of-1970s.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2016/11/pivot-collapse-thailands-junta-moves.html
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