Many good things in today's cable. Yes there must be nuance when thinking of Erdogan. He won. But I wonder if he would have accepted it, if he had lost. .....Glad the Starlink thing is straightened out. ....... I don't care much for anything Kissinger says anymore, but that was interesting. ......What's the thinking of Georgia or Moldova into NATO? ......Obviously, we await the end of the war for even the remote chance of NATO or EU membership for Ukraine. .....side issue: I think recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is wrong, and I am sorry Trump used that as a negotiating chip......
Yes I think so (on the balance of all available evidence). Erdogan said before the elections (in response to this precise question): " of course I would concede - only a terrorist would not". Moreover, unlike Trump or Balsonaro, he never laid context for a refusal to concede ( alleging electoral meddling/rigging against him etc). Finally, he would not have a capacity to do so with ease and so he would not attempt it even he wanted to - Erdogan values his dignity. He would not want to embarrass himself and lose total legitimacy. This is in contrast to brazen thuggishness of outright authoritarians like Al-sisi or Putin or Lukashenko.
Moldova's fate depends on Ukraine. For now, only EU membership is realistic. NATO membership/future is linked to Ukraine. I am not entirely convinced either way re Western Sahara. Complicated topic. Might look at it one day.
Many good things in today's cable. Yes there must be nuance when thinking of Erdogan. He won. But I wonder if he would have accepted it, if he had lost. .....Glad the Starlink thing is straightened out. ....... I don't care much for anything Kissinger says anymore, but that was interesting. ......What's the thinking of Georgia or Moldova into NATO? ......Obviously, we await the end of the war for even the remote chance of NATO or EU membership for Ukraine. .....side issue: I think recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is wrong, and I am sorry Trump used that as a negotiating chip......
Yes I think so (on the balance of all available evidence). Erdogan said before the elections (in response to this precise question): " of course I would concede - only a terrorist would not". Moreover, unlike Trump or Balsonaro, he never laid context for a refusal to concede ( alleging electoral meddling/rigging against him etc). Finally, he would not have a capacity to do so with ease and so he would not attempt it even he wanted to - Erdogan values his dignity. He would not want to embarrass himself and lose total legitimacy. This is in contrast to brazen thuggishness of outright authoritarians like Al-sisi or Putin or Lukashenko.
Moldova's fate depends on Ukraine. For now, only EU membership is realistic. NATO membership/future is linked to Ukraine. I am not entirely convinced either way re Western Sahara. Complicated topic. Might look at it one day.