On Monday, the US sanctioned Turkey, a fellow Nato power, over its procurement of the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system. Ankara first purchased the system in 2017, provoking much ire in Washington. The new sanctions are designed to avoid wider damage to Turkey's fragile economy, focusing instead on the country's defence establishment.
Sparing Turkey's economy gives both nations room for de-escalating tensions at some point in the future, and US State Department officials have said they hope the Turkish government will engage in finding a solution. Nonetheless, it is the most meaningful statement yet of American discontent at the direction in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been taking his country. It is also perhaps the most significant rift to emerge within Nato in years.
In addition to the S-400, there is a host of other disagreements between the two countries. The US has also taken action against Turkish banks for helping Iran dodge American sanctions. Mr Erdogan has criticised US support for Israel, as well as Washington’s refusal to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric whom Ankara blames for a coup attempt against Mr Erdogan in 2016.
The sanctions are the most meaningful statement yet of American discontent at the direction President Erdogan is taking his country
Turkey also deeply opposes US support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, a group that it deems a terrorist organisation. Since 2016, Turkey has on three separate occasions forayed into northern Syria to target the YPG, even as the group’s officers were supported by US military advisers and while it was playing an important role fighting extremists. This happened most recently last year, after which US President Donald Trump, who normally sought good relations with Turkey's Islamist president, threatened in a tweet to "obliterate the Economy (sic) of Turkey".
On top of this, Mr Erdogan's politics have alienated the EU. European leaders are preparing to place sanctions on Turkey, though they will not have the same bite as the American sanctions, given the dollar's supremacy in international markets. EU measures are expected to target people involved in Turkey's controversial energy exploration expeditions into the eastern Mediterranean earlier this year.
Editorials from The National
Mr Erdogan’s path renders such responses from great powers inevitable. It was not always this way – for a long time Turkey was seen as a reliable and vital Western ally. In the early days of Mr Erdogan's presidency, Turkish accession to the EU was a realistic and much-anticipated prospect. Today, it is at most a counterfactual thought experiment.
The damage to Turkey, as well as to the geopolitical interests of its Nato allies, from Ankara’s decline will be long-lasting unless Mr Erdogan’s course is reversed. In the meantime, it weakens the multilateral spirit needed to deal with issues like the migration crisis, in which Turkey plays a vital role, given its geographical location and generous hosting of an estimated 4 million refugees as of 2020.
The West and the Middle East alike need Ankara’s constructive involvement in fighting international terrorism, revitalising the regional economy and creating a more stable and prosperous environment for the region’s people. That does not appear to be the path chosen by its current leadership. Turkey is a nation that straddles two continents, but it can offer nothing to either if its leaders insist upon setting it adrift.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The view from The National
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
INFO
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
Honeymoonish
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