Turkey in the Century of the Sea and Asia

Turkey in the Century of the Sea and Asia

CEM GÜRDENİZ Retired RADM

Cem Gürdeniz graduated from the Naval Academy International Relations Department in 1979. He completed his post graduate project on ‘Personal and Education Analysis’ in Naval Postgraduate School/USA (1983-1985). He received a master’s degree from Universite Libre Bruxelles (ULB) on International Politics. He was assigned as the Commodore for the 3 Frigate Flotilla. Concluding the BH Strategy Branch in Plans and Policy Division at Turkish Naval Forces HQ, he was promoted to Rear Admiral (LH) and assumed the duty until 2005. He became Division Head for the Plans and Policy Division at Turkish Naval Forces HQ (2005-2007). Then he was posted as the Commander of the Landing Forces and by promoting to Rear Admiral (UH) to Commander of the Mine Fleet Command. He assumed the duty of Division Head of the Plans and Policy Division at Turkish Naval Forces HQ for the second time. He was arrested with false evidence in the so-called Sledgehammer Case on February 11, 2011, and was convicted for 18 years. He was freed by the Constitutional Court’s decision to retrial on 19 June 2014 and was acquitted on 9 June 2015. Admiral (R) Gürdeniz speaks French and English fluently and has 22 articles published in Turkish Navy Bulletin. He is also the author of a number of publications including Turkish Navy Handbook, Naval Terms Dictionary English/Turkish and Turkish/English and Turkish Naval Fleet (prestigious book), Cumhuriyet Donanması, Açık Denizlere Doğru Deniz Kuvvetleri, Hedefteki Donanma and Amatör Denizciler İçin Acil Durum Seyri. He is the author of the weekly column named “Mavi Vatan” in Aydınlık newspaper. He still serves as the Founding Director of Koç University Maritime Forum.

After July 16, 2016, a turning point in our recent history, Turkey was compelled to turn back to the geopolitics once adopted by Mustafa Kemal. Thus, Turkey changed its route from Atlantic to Eurasia. This is in fact not an outcome of daily politics, but rather a result of a geopolitical reflex of daily awakening and the urge to survive. Turkish-Russian cooperation should expand from the Levant Coast to the region covering Maghreb Coast as well. Turkish-Chinese rapprochement and, in particular, the development of economic, political and military cooperation between the two countries should be added to this axis of cooperation. Within the framework of the said tripartite cooperation, many creative options can be formulated with regard to the issues of Crimea, Xinqiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the future of the TRNC, within the scope of the future of relations among the three countries.

KEMALISM SHAPED THE GEOPOLITICAL approval of the “Second Man” İnönü, emerged

axis of Turkey, during the first fifteen years, on with a conservative attitude and liberal econo-

the basis of friendship and cooperation with my thesis. DP’s greatest strength was its ability

the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to convert the tenets (values) of Islam Religion

and Iran in the east and Greece, Bulgaria and into a political instrument. The DP has won the

Romania in the west, in line with the paradigm elections held in 1950. DP led Turkey to partic-

of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”. Turkey ipate in the Korean War without the approval of

formed a belt around itself aimed at defense, se- the Turkish Parliament. After the Korean War,

curity, and stability through the Soviet-Turkish in 1952 Turkey pursuing the path pushed by DP

Treaty of Friendship and Neutrality that was became a member of North Atlantic Treaty Or-

undersigned in 1925, and additionally the Bal- ganization (NATO). The burden of NATO has

kan Entente the Saadabad Pact which took ef- kept growing for Turkey ever since.

fect in 1934 and 1937 respectively. Despite the

multiple political pressures from all-around dur- The Era After 1950 and Rupture

ing the Second World War, the young Republic From Eurasia

was able to remain out of the great destruction. After 1950, the biggest loss for Turkey was the This was indeed a great success. However, the conversion of Turkish-Soviet friendship into Euro-Atlantic system, the winner of the War,

did not let Turkey, bordering the southern part hostility between the two countries. Turkey was

of the USSR, become independent at the post- cut off from Eurasia during the Cold War period.

war geopolitics. After all, Turkey was in a very Fully independent Turkey founded by Mustafa

strategic location controlling Dardanelles and Kemal had become a useful instrument of the

İstanbul Straits as well as the huge geography Atlantic system. Under the name of "Combating

of Afro-Eurasia. The Democratic Party (DP), Communism", the Kemalist and revolutionary

founded by deputies who left Rebuplican Peo- vein was dried out. Turkey could not even mim-

ple’s Party (CHP) on January 7, 1946, upon the ic Finland that was invaded by the Soviet Union

during the Great War. In the end, Finland had of Afghanistan. Maps would now be changed in

achieved to protect its land and independence. Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

Contrary to Finland, Turkey could not succeed In terms of the interests of imperialism, it was

in remaining non-committal and neutral. Thus, of vital importance for both energy and critical

Turkey failed to remain loyal to the legacy of our raw material resources should be under control.

founding father, Atatürk. Over the years, being Besides, it seemed also imperative to prevent

involved in the “Rimland” (Spykman, 1944Spykman (1944). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.) of the rise of China while ensuring the security of

the Atlantic System, Turkey became the pioneer Israel. But, most importantly, from the point of

and willing actor of George Kennan’s “Contain- view of imperialism, the “Rimland” needed to be

ment Doctrine” (National Security Archive, consolidated. At this stage, the reshaping of Tur-

1946). “Brzezinski Islamization” of the “Rimkey under imperialist projects and intentions has

land” around the Soviet Union after 1979 gave taken place since 2002.

rise and life to the containment of the Soviet Un-

ion while rendering democracy in Turkey into a FETO designed and implemented

conservative form. The Kemalist essence of the a conspiracy against the Turkish

Republic was tried to be destroyed during the era Army. As a result, the command

after 1979. Moreover, separatist ethnic national- structure (the military chain of

ism became a problem for the state in the same command) of the strongest military

period through PKK terrorism. force of the “Rimland” collapsed, and many officers were put in the The Cold War ended in the early 90s. Impeprisons in a day. rialism, that is the West, had won the War. While

Yugoslavia fragmented, Muslims were massacred After 2008, the Turkish army and navy be-

in Bosnia. In a euphoria of triumph, enlargement came ineffective and neutralized through Fethul-

of NATO carried on continuously until Ukraine lah Terror Organization (FETO), designed and

and Georgia. While Russia was under siege, it implemented a conspiracy against the Turkish

was time to deal with “the Heartland” (Mack- Army.2 As a result, the command structure (the

inder, 1904) in Eurasia. The events of Septem- military chain of command) of the strongest mil-

ber 11, 2001, provided a historic opportunity for itary force of the “Rimland” collapsed, and many

this. The invasion of Iraq followed the invasion officers were put in the prisons in a day.

1 Famous strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski served as the National Security Consultant of US President Jimmy Carter between 1977

and 1980. With the "Green Belt Theory" developed in 1979, Brzezinski aimed to support Islamic fundamentalist religious organizations and formations against the Soviet Union. The Green Belt theory was implemented immediately after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

2 Editor's Note: The author refers to the cases such as Ergenekon and Balyoz through which some of the higher positioned army

officials, intellectuals and politicians were tried in the courts or imprisoned between 2007-2014. As a result of these cases, hundreds of officers at key positions in the Turkish Armed Forces were imprisoned and removed from the army. With these cases it was aimed at making weaken the forces embedded in the state, political sphere and the society, that opposed Turkey’s dependency on the United States and that supported independent foreign policy. Moreover, FETO members who made the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, were brought to key positions via these lawsuits. It has been understood since 2014 that the police reports on which these cases were based and the indictments prepared by the prosecution offices were created with false evidence. The cases which were later referred to as “conspiracy cases”, were documented that all the processes about court orders were executed by the members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization in the police and judicial departments. Judicial authorities in Turkey has still been investigating the role of the US in both the July 15 coup attempt by FETO and the above mentioned “conspiracy cases”.

Turkey’s naval exercise called ‘Blue Homeland 2019’ launched on 27 February till 3rd of March.

After the coup attempt by FETO on July 15, Kemal. This is a geopolitical reflex of awakening

2016, the paradigm shaped by the conspiracy and the urge to survive, not of daily politics. The

against the Turkish Army and thus against Tur- said geopolitical reflex strongly opposes to the

key went bankrupt. This is because, a hitman of attempts to establish a “puppet” Kurdish state in

the Atlantic System, namely FETO supposedly the south of Turkey and to Turkey’s detachment

from the Mediterranean, and to the termination adhering to the Islamic tenets had opened fire to of the Turkish military presence in Northern its own people, causing hundreds of deaths and Cyprus. The Mediterranean Shield and Gunboat casualties. It’s noteworthy that the government it Diplomacy, Blue Homeland Naval Exercise, Opattempted to overthrow also had adhered to Iserations of Euphrates Shield, Operations of Olive

lamic values. Thus, the process of testing democ- Branch, Operations of Peace Spring, fight against

racy with religion has ended. FETO, and Turkey’s seismic research and drill-

ing activities related to oil and gas exploration The Route Change From underway in the Mediterranean are the reflec- Atlantic to Eurasia tions of this reflex. In this context, the Ministry

After July 16, 2016, Turkey had to change its of Foreign Affairs launched the “Asia Anew” in-

course from “Atlantic” to “Eurasia” and turned itiative on August 4, 2019. On 22 October 2019

back to the geopolitics once adopted by Mustafa Sochi agreement was signed between Turkey and

Russia. On the 5th of November, departing from opening to “the Century of Asia and the Sea” for

China and crossing the “Middle Corridor”, the Turkey. In this initiative, Turkey, “Blue Home-

first train reached Europe through the Anatolia land”3 and the Turkish Republic of Northern

and Bosphorus Tunnel under the sea. In addi- Cyprus (TRNC) geopolitical integrity is essen-

tion, Turkey signed the Maritime Boundary De- tial. Turkey will meet with Asia and the Sea more

limitation Agreement with Libya on November intensely than ever before. TRNC and Turkey’s

27, 2019. Consequently, Turkey’s relations with geopolitical future in the Eastern Mediterrane-

Iran, Russia and the Asian countries, especially an is fully dependent on each other. This future

China, are rising on every level. In the mean- is shaped on three legs. The first of these is the

while, the Astana Process underway in Syria has protection of the “Blue Homeland”. The second

taken precedence over the Geneva process. The is to block the “puppet Kurdish state” that aims

states on the “Rimland” of Spykman (Spykman, to reach the sea. Thirdly, the biggest assurance

1944) are turning their faces to Eurasia. of the Anatolian peninsula along the southern

No doubt that this inevitable change will axis is to maintain the independent existence

restart the period of peace, stability, and balance of TRNC. All three legs are like “communicat-

that Humanity sought for in history. Everlasting ing vessels” (united containers) which cannot be

peace and tranquility are the longings for peoples separated or isolated from each other.

of the world as Humanity has suffered a great In Turkey’s new initiative policy for Asia,

deal from the unipolar Atlantic impositions, es- the existence of the TRNC has special impor-

pecially over the past thirty years. A lot of blood tance. There is much that can be done both in

has been shed, and still continues to spill more. terms of mutual recognition and economic co-

While Atlantic imperialism is retreating, it uses operation with Asian countries especially with

many tactics to provoke and to confuse the en- the Russian Federation and China. With refer-

tire world spanning from Bolivia to Hong Kong ence to Crimea, Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous

region and the future of the TRNC, there is a and from Venezuela to Iran; however, it does get wide range of options regarding the future reany results. Our world needs breathing and a lations among Turkey, China and the Russian new order in every aspect. Federation. Cooperation as such can contribute to resolving the problems of the “Blue Home- “Asia Anew” Initiative and Our land” regarding the sovereignty in the seas sur- Maritime Boundaries rounding Turkey, in particular, the maritime

On the other hand, in the multipolar global sys- boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. The

tem, the 21st century will be both “the Century said cooperation can offer options that can bal-

of Asia” and “the Century of the Oceans”. In this ance a complex and dangerous picture resulting

century, the Mediterranean Sea will be the door from the aggressive, unlawful attitudes and ac-

3 Editor's Note: "Blue Homeland" is a concept developed by Retired Admiral Cem Gürdeniz and embedded in Turkish mil-

itary-political literature. Gürdeniz, which is also called "Blue homeland" in its column as title in the Aydınlık newspaper, defines the concept of the Blue Homeland as follows: "I used the concept of the Blue Homeland for the first time in the symposium on the Black Sea and Naval Security we organized at the Naval Forces Command on June 14, 2006." It is the name of the country, which briefly covers our maritime jurisdiction areas (territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone) in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Aegean, where we are surrounded by living and non-living resources. The surface of this homeland, the mass of water, the bottom and the land mass beneath belong to Republic of Turkey. The size of blue homeland is equal to half of land of Turkey. Every state that has got to coast to the sea has a blue homeland. The most fundamental action of geopolitical reflexes is reflecting tendency to the sea and ownership of the blue homeland." For more info: (Gürdeniz, 2013Gürdeniz (2013). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.).

Turkey’s maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean. E-F line shows the boundary drawn in the agreement with Libya.

tions like piracy of Greece and Southern Cyprus, that Greece tries to present ongoing conflict as

which receive the support of the United States a mere Crusader-Islam polarization. Being a

of America (USA), European Union (EU), Isra- secular republic, Turkey must not fall into this

el, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In this context, the trap. Against this tout by Greece, we and all oth-

signing of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) er third party countries should consider the fact

border memorandum with Libya on 27 Novem- that Egypt and Palestine, too, stand with the an-

ber 2019 is an extremely important and major ti-Turkey bloc of Greece and Cyprus in the Eastdevelopment. Similarly, the government’s iniern Mediterranean. Israel is also included in the tiation of a new process for a boundary agreesame bloc. ment with Syria, hopefully very soon, will make In summary, Turkey now is in a new phase. a great deal of contribution to the security of the Turkey’s borders regarding its security are with- “Blue Homeland”. On the other hand, it should be encour- The Turkish-Chinese rapprochement aged to invite friendly and allied countries to and especially the development

the Mediterranean Shield Operation and es- of economic, political and military

pecially the landlocked Turkish Republics in cooperation between the two

Central Asia with shore access to the Caspian countries should be added to the

Sea by renting them warships. It is a sheer fact above-mentioned union.

in the surrounding seas while the defense of the Multi-Dimensional Benefits of

TRNC begins in Anatolia. It should not be for- Turkish-Chinese Rapprochement

gotten that Turkey and TRNC that are tried to The Turkish-Chinese rapprochement and espebe isolated and excluded from the Eastern Medcially the development of economic, political iterranean today, will not allow the repeat the and military cooperation between the two counhistory. tries should be added to the above-mentioned

Turkish-Russian Cooperation union. To prevent the development of an alliance

Expanding From Levant To Maghreb stated above, it is possible that pro-Atlantic bloc

in Turkey may engage in any kind of provoca- In this context, The Turkish-Russian cooperation tion and blocking efforts. However, this process should expand from the Levant Coast to the reshould be managed in a calm and cold-blooded gion covering Maghreb Coast as well. The USA’s manner, and mutual welfare and happiness of all move against Iran and its open conflict with this parties involved should be targeted accordingly. country make this cooperation even more essen- Favoring and nurturing the mutual interests of tial. This cooperation will balance the unlawful- Turkey and China fairly and in a balanced manness of US and Israeli policies in the Gulf and ner is integral to the development of the relations the Levant coast. This cooperation will balance between two countries. Within the scope of the the unlawfulness of US and Israeli policies in the Belt and Road Initiative (In line with the guiding Gulf and the Levant coast. It will also give a seriprinciples of BRI), implementing joint projects ous message to Saudi and United Arab Emirates beneficial to both parties will positively affect (UAE) regimes. In the Middle East and the Eastthe view of the public opinion in Turkey. In this ern Mediterranean, we can restore the stability,

which the Atlantic front impaired, through the way, the negative perceptions about China in the

new balance of power of the 21st century. Turk- people who have been poisoned with pro-Atlan-

ish-Russian cooperation, which will provide tic propaganda for years will disappear. It is nec-

stability in Syria and Libya, will also prevent the essary to touch on another subject: As is known,

tension that is likely to escalate between the USA the Greece/Piraeus port was chosen by China as

and Iran. In this process, Turkey’s biggest mis- the entry gate to Europe. This preference has po-

take that Turkey must refrain itself would be to tentially geopolitical risks. In the future, the US

make harm to it he Turkish-Iranian rapproche- may put pressure on Greece on the activities of

ment, which took place in the Astana Process, this port and its relations with China. Keeping

by taking a negative stance against Iran. Iran is in mind all these facts, we kindly advise our Chi-

the biggest obstacle to Atlantic imperialism in nese friends to look for alternate ports in Turkey

West Asia and Israel’s policy of creating region- and the TRNC for entry to Europe.

al expansion and instability. The internal unity Turkey, on the path illuminated by the

of Turkey and the Turkish-Russian coopera- teachings of Mustafa Kemal, should fulfill its

tion will be the most important factor that will responsibility reflected in the directive “Armies,

prevent the Third World War which everyone your first goal is the Mediterranean”, that he gave

around the globe badly fears. on September 1, 1922. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

told the Egyptian Ambassador one morning in ation, with no color, religion or race difference

1933, showing the sun rising from the crests of between nations.”

Ankara: “Look at the sun that will rise from the east References now! Today, I see the awakening of all eastern Gürdeniz, C. (2013, March 23). Neden Mavi Vatan?

nations from afar, just as I see the day dawn- Aydınlık Gazetesi. Retrieved from https://www.

ing. There are more sister nations to achieve aydinlik.com.tr/arsiv/neden-mavi-vatan

independence and freedom. Their rebirth will Mackinder, H. J. (1904). The Geographical Pivot of

undoubtedly come true towards progress and History. Geographical Journal, 23(4), 421-437.

prosperity. Despite all the difficulties and obsta- National Security Archive. (1946, February 22). The

Charge in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the cles, these nations will defeat them and reach the Secretary of State. Retrieved from https://nsarchive2.

future that awaits them. Colonialism and impe- gwu.edu//coldwar/documents/episode- 1/kennan htm.

rialism will disappear from the earth and will be Spykman, N. J. (1944). The Geography of the Peace.

replaced by a new era of harmony and cooper- New York: Harcourt Brace and Company.