Unmoved By Criticism At Home, Erdoğan Opens The Gates To International Legitimacy

Now that he claims victory over the referendum — no matter by a small margin and despite allegations of widespread vote fraud — we have come to face a new question about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: will he succeed in gaining international legitimacy?

Indications are, he will. Feeling secure that the opposition's claims for rigging will not be dealt by the judiciary — which he controls — he rapidly moved on to the next stage: beginning from April 30, Erdoğan is set to meet the leaders of India, Russia, China, as well as attend NATO summit in Brussels, where he is expected to talk to top EU figures such as Juncker and Tusk.

The 'crowning moment' in his international tour, which is expected to last nearly a month, will be his meeting with Donald Trump, on May 16–17. 

In fact, what brought Erdoğan closer to legitimacy was Trump's call only a day after the referendum, which signalled that the White House opts for 'utility', as opposed to 'values', in its relations with Turkey. In an excellent news analysis, CNN explained the background on how decision makers come to that state of mind.

Speaking to various sources in Washington DC, Amberin Zaman digs deeper into the subject. Much, she concludes, depends on what the former militaries, now part of Trump Administration, will choose. 

Can the White House afford to abandon the Syrian Kurdish fighters, SDF — as Turkey wants — and succeed in battling against ISIS? 

Not out of question.

At the moment, given also the 'refugee strain' over Europe, odds are that the EU will also opt for utility instead of values.

Erdoğan is on a winning path.