As the world marked the third anniversary of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly convened a special session that underscored a significant shift in global diplomacy. The session saw a sharp divide between the United States and its Western allies, highlighting the changing dynamics within transatlantic relations under the leadership of former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While UNGA resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect the prevailing global sentiment. The resolution condemning Russia\u2019s aggression in Ukraine, largely backed by European nations, sparked a rare confrontation between the US and its closest European partners. The US, traditionally a staunch ally of Europe, voted against the resolution\u2014a move that caught many by surprise. This division echoed the tensions of the 2003 Iraq War but was seen by many as a more profound rift, signaling a fundamental shift in the Western alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vote followed direct talks between US and Russian officials, notably excluding Ukraine, and coincided with Trump\u2019s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The split over Ukraine\u2019s fate was more than just a policy disagreement\u2014it represented a deeper shift in how the West approaches geopolitical threats, particularly the challenge posed by Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump\u2019s return to the political arena has reignited tensions between the US and its European counterparts. His first term saw significant rifts over issues like the Iran nuclear deal and trade disputes, shaking the EU-US relationship to its core. Now, as his influence resurges, Europe\u2019s concerns are growing once again, with many questioning the future of transatlantic cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US\u2019s stance on Ukraine is only the latest example of these growing divisions. The outcome of the vote, which saw 93 countries back the resolution, 18 vote against, and 65 abstain, was striking. In contrast to a similar vote in 2023, where the US led the charge condemning Russia\u2019s actions, this year\u2019s vote marked a notable change in the US\u2019s approach, revealing a shift in how Washington engages with the global community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Turkey, which has played a delicate balancing act between Moscow and the West, has aligned itself more closely with European capitals, voting in favor of the resolution. Turkey\u2019s stance reflects broader shifts in its foreign policy, positioning itself more firmly within the European sphere rather than the traditionally US-dominated alliance. The vote underscored Turkey\u2019s role as a key player in European security and highlighted the increasingly complex geopolitical challenges Ankara faces as it navigates tensions between Washington and Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the US and Europe find themselves at odds, Turkey faces a delicate balancing act between competing interests. With increasing friction between the US and the EU, Turkey\u2019s position will be crucial in shaping future transatlantic relations. The next few years will be pivotal as Ankara charts its course through a rapidly changing global landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the third anniversary of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly this week convened a special session that witnessed a major diplomatic split between Washington and its Western allies. The split highlighted the shifting alliances within transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump amid the emergence of new geopolitical blocs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While UNGA resolutions are not legally binding, they are seen as a reflection of global sentiment. That is why the outcome of the European-backed Ukraine vote was particularly striking. The US confronted its traditionally close European allies and opposed a resolution that called out Moscow\u2019s aggression. The vote followed direct talks between US and Russian officials, which excluded Ukraine, and coincided with Trump\u2019s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington. The split over the Ukraine vote was seen as the biggest divide between Western powers at the UN since the 2003 Iraq War, and possibly even more critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the case of the Iraq War, Western powers, particularly the US and EU countries such as France and Germany, were deeply divided over the decision to invade. This division was a major moment of friction among the Western allies, but ultimately it was a policy disagreement centered on a specific issue \u2014 whether to go to war in Iraq. The split over Ukraine is more than just a policy disagreement, it signals a fundamental paradigm shift within the Western alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump\u2019s return has brought with it challenges for both Turkiye and the EU. In Trump\u2019s first term, the US and Europe found themselves on different sides of international issues, from the Middle East peace process to the Iran nuclear deal. The first Trump administration\u2019s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and its trade disputes with Brussels dealt a severe blow to EU-US relations. At its worst point, European officials even questioned, \u201cWith friends like that (Trump), who needs enemies?\u201d Today, similar concerns are being voiced in European capitals, with growing uncertainty about what lies ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Increasing anti-Americanism on Europe\u2019s streets due to Trump\u2019s policies also have parallels in Turkiye. Among the most pressing issues between Ankara and Washington is America\u2019s support for the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are dominated by the Kurdish YPG, an offshoot of the PKK \u2014 a US and EU-designated terrorist group that Turkiye has been fighting for the last four decades. On the other side, Turkiye and the EU still have issues waiting to be resolved and most of these are structural in nature. The policies of the Trump administration are now increasingly posing risks to the mutual interests of Turkiye and Europe. This has made the latter realize that collective action is needed for dealing with the US. Thus, the EU\u2019s stance not only indicates that Turkiye and Europe are politically and economically interdependent, but it also shows that Ankara and Brussels can put their bilateral issues aside in the face of a common threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, the well-known theory of \u201cbalance of threat\u201d comes to mind. This theory, first proposed by Stephen M. Walt in the 1980s, says states\u2019 alliance behavior is determined by the threat they perceive from other states. Both Turkiye and the EU have the sense that they are aboard the same ship, facing common challenges and having to cope with American waves together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coming back to the Ukraine vote, despite the US\u2019 opposition, the resolution was adopted. Ninety-three countries voted in favor, 18 against and 65 abstained, with 17 countries choosing not to participate. This breakdown is significant, as it shows a clear division in the global balance of power, with the majority standing against Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when comparing this vote to a similar one held in February 2023, it is clear there has been a shift. In 2023, 141 countries voted in favor of condemning Russia\u2019s invasion, with the US leading that bloc. The difference in voting patterns of the US highlights the broader changes taking place, which have led to the growing US-EU split when it comes to their approach to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ankara has aligned with European capitals in condemning Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, voting in favor of both UNGA resolutions. However, throughout this war, Turkiye has played a crucial balancing role between Moscow and the West, bolstered by the close personal diplomacy between the Turkish and Russian leaders. The vote at the UN clearly shows that Ankara aligns more closely with the EU than the US. Turkiye\u2019s position signals a significant shift in its foreign policy approach to the transatlantic alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkiye is of importance to the visions of both the US and the EU in the region. For Washington, Turkiye has been a critical strategic ally and a \u201cmodel\u201d partner since the Cold War, having the second-largest army within NATO after the US. For Europe, Turkiye is an integral part of the continent\u2019s security framework and a candidate for membership since the inception of the European bloc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, Turkiye\u2019s ties with the US and the EU have not proceeded along parallel paths, but they were intimately linked. However, this dynamic has shifted, with the growing rifts between the US and the EU leaving Ankara with strong incentives to sit on the fence for at least the next four years. The coming years will be critical for Ankara as it navigates its position between the competing interests of the US and the EU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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