A country with rapid economic and demographic growth that rightly wants to play an important role in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. It is an Islamic country, but also a European one. It is all of this, contemporary Turkey.
Its traditional policy aimed at full integration into the European Union, but this goal is hampered by the policies of many member states. It is therefore trying to play an autonomous regional role, but encounters many difficulties and few successes (except those, albeit important, economic and commercial).
Its old relationship with Israel is in crisis, but so is that with its difficult neighbors: Syria and Iran. Some in the Arab world, and in particular in Egypt, claim to be inspired by its constitutional and political model, but in reality they are still far from it and do not seem to fully understand it. Now a new conflict sees Turkey pitted against the Greek Cypriot state (member of the EU) and Issale, in defense of Turkish Cypriot interests on the exploitation of offshore oil fields.
But this time the conflict is likely to be much more serious. The Greek Cypriot government is already blocking a series of chapters in the negotiations between the EU and Turkey, thus preventing their positive conclusion. Ankara has clearly decided to force the hand to get to the "moment of truth", whatever the cost.
It is possible that Erdogan, prompted by the profound changes underway in the Middle East and perhaps also by the economic crisis which makes the European model less attractive, will try to burn his bridges behind him. Either inside or outside Europe, but no longer in the Limbo of uncertain and infinite expectations.
It is a dangerous choice, perhaps rash, which could seriously damage Turkey, but which in the meantime will certainly damage Europe. The response to such a challenge cannot be limited to the problem of Cyprus and its oil, nor to that of Israel, but must be strategic: if Europe is still interested in Turkey, as it should be, it must be able to answer the fundamental question posed from Ankara: can Turkey's future still be called European?
