The Unexpected Alliance: How Artillery Shells and Global Conflicts Fuel Turkey’s Rising Power on the World Stage”.

For decades, the phrase “The road to Washington goes through Jerusalem” has been commonly used by people around the world. In 1949, Turkey was the first Muslim country to recognize Israel, with the aim of strengthening ties with Washington and eventually joining the NATO alliance in 1952. However, this move was driven by a fear of Soviet expansion after World War II rather than support for Zionism.

Today, as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden find themselves at odds, traditional alliances are shifting. Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have found common ground based on mutual opportunism. Erdogan’s approval was needed for Sweden to join NATO and for Turkey to upgrade its air force, solidifying their relationship.

Reports suggest that Erdogan may visit the White House on May 9th, marking the first visit by a Turkish president to Washington since Biden took office. The unexpected closeness between these two leaders is driven by the increasing demand for artillery shells, particularly 155mm diameter shells used by NATO countries like Israel.

As the conflict in Ukraine has escalated, the demand for 155mm shells has skyrocketed, leading to shortages in supply. The US and EU are working to increase production rates to meet demand. Turkey is expected to play a significant role in the supply chain, potentially becoming the top supplier of shells to the US.

Erdogan’s strategic maneuvers in the midst of global conflicts have demonstrated his complex diplomatic approach. By aligning with the US on artillery production, he is positioning Turkey as a key player on the world stage. This shifting of alliances and geopolitical dynamics highlights how leaders like Erdogan navigate complex relationships to advance their interests in an increasingly interconnected global politics landscape.

Countries like Turkey are capitalizing on opportunities presented by these changes in order to solidify their positions in international relations. As such, it will be interesting to see how these developments unfold over time and what impact they will have on global politics as we know it today.