During the height of the refugee crisis in 2015, it looked as
if the Schengen Treaty (which provides open internal borders within the EU) was
ready to collapse. The EU weathered the storm, but there are still tensions –
and in some cases these tensions are fueled by external considerations.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-elections-opposition-candidate-kilicdaroglu-refugees-expel
To the surprise of many, Erdogan not only did better than
expected in the first round of the election, he now stands all but poised to
win another term. This is despite the crushing economic troubles the country
faces and the scandal surrounding the response to the February 2023 earthquake
and subsequent questions surrounding corruption, building codes, and the like.
These are stressful times for the AKP leadership in Ankara
and many wonder if its long tenure is nearing its end. Erdogan has been on the
West's blacklist for years but his recent moves to block Sweden from joining
NATO have earned him a new set of enemies and with elections in the spring, the
pressure is starting to mount. These moves by the US Treasury Department are
only going to pour fuel on an already intensely burning fire.
