On the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Presidency's Directorate of Communications conducted a series of interviews with experts in their fields, titled "Rebuilding Trust and Inspiring Hope in the post-COVID-19 Era: Türkiye's Perspective on the International Order", which also addressed UN reform.
Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University Michael A. Reynolds evaluated Türkiye's place in the regional and global equation, as well as the important roles it plays, in an interview organized by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications on the sidelines of the UN 76th General Assembly.
US political scientist Michael Reynolds: "Türkiye's importance to the multilateral or multipolar global system will only increase"
- "As Türkiye, I think you play an important role in the security of Afghanistan's broader region and in the broader Middle East. And that's again due to Türkiye's geography, its position of stability and status as a stable government in the region and one with a capable military with developing military technology."
- "Türkiye and Afghanistan saw each other as states that had something in common, that they were both Muslim, they were independent, sovereign and in an era of high imperialism. There's a sort of understanding both of Afghanistan's and Turks. They recognise something in common that they have with each other."
US political scientist Michael Reynolds pointed to the crucial roles Türkiye played in terms of politics, economics and military, and said, "Thinking about Türkiye and its place in more of a multilateral system in the world, I think there's no doubt that Türkiye's importance to the multilateral or multipolar global system will only increase."
Noting that Ankara has accomplished duties that contribute to international peace and stability not only in its own region but also in other parts of the world, Reynolds said, "And Türkiye is a stable actor in this part of the world, in these parts of the world. I was going to say this part of the world but it is multiple parts of the world and that's not going to change."
"Türkiye plays an important role in the security of Afghanistan's broader region and in the broader Middle East"
Emphasising that Türkiye made a significant contribution to the security and stability of the Middle East, the US political scientist said:
"So as Türkiye, I think you play an important role in the security of Afghanistan's broader region and in the broader Middle East. And that's again due to Türkiye's geography, its position of stability and status as a stable government in the region and one with a capable military with developing military technology."
Assessing the recent developments in Afghanistan, Reynolds stated that the relations between Türkiye and Afghanistan had a long history and that the close ties built after World War I were crucial.
Reynolds continued as follows:
"Türkiye and Afghanistan saw each other as states that had something in common, that they were both Muslim, they were independent, sovereign and in an era of high imperialism. There weren't many states like that. There is a sort of understanding both of Afghanistan's and Turks, they recognise something in common that they have with each other. You have cultural links with Islam, which is important as well. I think it makes it easier for Turks to speak to the Afghans. And it's necessary. I think we can feel confident that Turkey will continue to fulfil that role and I believe that Turkey will play a positive role for the region overall in using its weight for stability.”
Reynolds emphasized that migration has recently become an important topic for the international system, and that it is a problem not only for countries like Türkiye but also for the United States.
Noting that there is no easy or universal solution to the problem of migration, Reynolds believes that is necessary to focus on the constructive solution by handling it correctly.
"Türkiye is in an extraordinarily sensitive geography"
Reynolds continued as follows:
"I think the reasons for that are the ones that have always made Türkiye an important player. And the first and foremost, of course, is geography. Türkiye is in extraordinarily sensitive geography. Part of the Balkans, Europe, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Middle East. These are all areas that, within the last decade, we've seen multiple threats to stability. Unfortunately, I think many of those threats to stability are going to continue. And Türkiye's is a stable actor in this part, in these parts of the world. I was going to say this part of the world but it is multiple parts of the world and that's not going to change. I think in addition to that, what makes Türkiye important in this geography is the fact that it in fact has cultural links to all these areas. Whether it be Europe to the Muslim world, to the Caucasus, to Eurasia, to all these places that Türkiye is not a foreigner to these places."
Emphasising that Türkiye's long history of statehood and a rich tradition of diplomacy gave Türkiye quite an advantage in those areas, Reynolds said, "Türkiye as both a republic and then its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, has a long experience of being a leader in all these regions. And I think it's quite important for the future of these regions and for world stability that Türkiye not only continue to play that role, but I hope actually will be able to play that role, an even larger role and a more productive one."
Assessing the functions of the international organisations, Reynolds noted that the UN would never be able to fulfil the role of "central political power".
Stating that the UN should be viewed as a consulting organisation, Reynolds said, "I think really the key to improving the international order lies in reinforcing sovereignty throughout the world. I really think that states need to be responsible to their own populations."
In this context, the Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Luke Coffey evaluated the situation in Afghanistan, Türkiye's importance in the region and the UN reform before the United Nations General Assembly.
Emphasising that Türkiye’s influence was on the rise in Central Asia, the Caucasus and Afghanistan, in the past five or six years, Coffey expressed that despite the current difficulties in the relationship, Türkiye’s position as an ally and in the NATO benefited the United States very much.
"Türkiye and the Turkish flag symbolise impartiality"
Remarking that the elements that unite Türkiye and the United States were more than those that divide them, and stated the following about Türkiye's potential role in Afghanistan:
"When it comes to Afghanistan, I think there is scope for Türkiye to play a minimal role for the United States in Afghanistan to help maybe promote or communicate US interests towards the Taliban. If, let's say, there's a hostage situation or there needs to be the distribution of humanitarian aid, Türkiye might be able to coordinate with the Taliban because I think Türkiye in Afghanistan is seen as an honest broker by all sides. Whether you support the Taliban, you support the resistance movement, or you're someone in between who really just wants to get on with life, I think Türkiye and the Turkish flag symbolise impartiality. So, Türkiye is seen as an honest broker, and that could benefit the United States and also benefit the people of Afghanistan."
Assessing that the calls to the US administration regarding the Afghanistan issue would not be taken into consideration at this year's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which would take place under the shadow of the US defeat in Afghanistan, Coffey said, "the Biden administration has shown that it has no appetite or desire to do anything in Afghanistan. We saw as you described, a debacle I would call a fiasco or even a national disgrace. We saw what happened recently because the Biden administration did not want to even maintain the small US troop presence in the country. And right now, the Biden administration wants to put Afghanistan in the rearview mirror."
"America's image and prestige in the world have been diminished because of the actions taken by the Biden administration as it pertains to Afghanistan"
Noting that the steps of the US during the withdrawal process from Afghanistan were met with scepticism by its international allies, Coffey argued that the Biden administration was incapable of managing the process effectively.
Coffey said, "Of course, not just the Biden administration's reputation shrunk, but America's image and prestige in the world have been diminished because of the actions taken by the Biden administration as it pertains to Afghanistan. Because of the situation, the Taliban actually now control more of Afghanistan today than it did 20 years ago during the original 9/11 attacks in 2001. It has made many of our partners and allies question American resolve."
Luke Coffey also discussed the UN's role in international politics and the organisation's need for reform.
Stating that he was not too optimistic about the UN's role in the big international issues of the day, Coffey said that it was primarily because states were driven by national interests and there was a lack of consensus on many of the big, contentious issues around the world.
Coffey said, "If we want a very recent reminder of this, we only have to look at a year ago during the second Karabakh war, where after almost 30 years of a failed UN process, a failed OSCE process, Azerbaijan essentially had to implement those four UN resolutions that were passed in the nineteen nineties by itself," and stated that the problem was in the structure of the United Nations, and he is not suggesting that there was a better option out there.
Coffey concluded as follows:
"When you have five United Nations Security Council - permanent United Nations Security Council members that maintain veto power, and there are times when these five do not get along, some of them see the world one way or the other see the world a different way, you're bound to get gridlock. I'm not necessarily saying that the UN security, the permanent members, should give up their veto. I think there's no way they would do this, but I think we have to at least acknowledge that this is a fundamental part of the problem that the UN faces."