Opinion
By Paschos Mandravelis
When there is plenty of spectacle in Ankara, it seems perfectly suited to a president who once set up a wrestling ring in a tent on the White House grounds. Horses, ceremonial carpets, military parades, Janissary costumes, soldiers standing perfectly still, and generous praise were all part of an elaborate display intended to flatter the American president's oversized ego.
Should the warm compliments the president of the "land of the free" directed at Turkey's semi-authoritarian leader be taken seriously? Should recent events in Turkey leave Greece feeling uneasy?
The author argues that, with Donald Trump in the White House, people everywhere have reason to be cautious, not just in Greece. He describes Trump as a president willing to take major risks without a clear plan, despite reservations reportedly expressed by some of his closest advisers. In his view, almost no concern seems unreasonable while Trump leads the world's most powerful nation.
The article also recalls former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's reported conversation with General Mark Milley following the 2020 election, when she sought assurances that the outgoing president could not unilaterally gain access to the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
According to the author, Athens has little it can do about Trump's friendly relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Personal compliments such as calling Erdoğan "a great friend" or "fabulous" are not something diplomacy can easily answer. Instead, he suggests Greece, like much of the world, can only watch with disbelief.
The author also argues that it is difficult to build any long-term strategy around Trump's past remarks. He points out that Trump has sharply criticized Erdoğan before, only for the relationship to later improve. He also refers to Trump's changing comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In his view, leaders who have gambled on Trump's backing, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have ultimately paid a price.
The article concludes that the best hope lies with American voters. The author says the November midterm elections should produce members of Congress who are willing to fulfill their constitutional duty by acting as a check on presidential power instead of simply following the White House.
He argues that this would benefit not only the United States but the international community as well. In his view, without stronger institutional checks, America risks damaging both its democratic system and the international order.
