Analysis
Turkey is exploiting every opening.
NATO’s east flank, South Caucasus, Middle East – all see Ankara moving when Washington hesitates.
This is classic Erdogan way – transactional, opportunistic, and increasingly indispensable to all sides.
Baltic AWACS is not about Lithuania alone, it is Turkey proving it can guard NATO’s skies while cutting deals with Russia elsewhere.
That dual play is why both Brussels and Moscow still keep Ankara at the table.
In Caucasus, China mediates, EU pays, Turkey enforces.
In Middle East, Iran bleeds proxies, Israel weakens, Turkey reclaims ground.
Compartmentalisation is the right word – it is chess on three boards.
This can serve as a constructive message from Turkey to President Trump ahead of their meeting, highlighting the importance of understanding who has the ability to influence the balance in the region. Turkey is uniquely positioned to contribute to peace, and in this regard, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plays a central role as a stabilizing actor.
1. Ανάρτηση από NSTRIKE (@NSTRIKE1231)NSTRIKE (@NSTRIKE1231) δημοσίευσε στο 0:29 π.μ. on Πέμ, Σεπ 25, 2025:
According to Bloomberg, Turkey has deployed an advanced AWACS radar plane to Lithuania, signaling NATO is stepping up defenses in the Baltic region after Russian violations of its airspace.
https://t.co/G4naHOg5WX
(https://x.com/NSTRIKE1231/status/1970963857180065969?t=F1f0x2KCZjiCxLWMuxqfFw&s=03)
