Is it time to say yes or no to the Greater Middle East Project (BOP)?!

Had it not been for Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, our country's leaders were on the verge of becoming “friends” with Israel as well.

So much so that when Israel's Defense Minister Katz, who threatened that “Tehran will burn” after striking Iran, came to Ankara in 2022, he had asked Erdoğan to “ban Hamas's activities in Turkey” and to “warn Iran regarding arms shipments to Syria.” According to Israeli sources, the reason for Turkey's attempt to get closer to Israel was to mend ties with the US and also to purchase new weapons systems from Israel.

Of course, after that Hamas attack, the film rewound. Erdoğan addressed Netanyahu, saying, “Know this, you are on your way out, you are on your way out.” He also warned those who support Israel's massacres, stating, “The issue is a matter of crusader vs. crescent. That is how we view the situation.”

During the opening ceremony of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on October 1 last year, he made that famous statement and explained that the target of Israel, which acts with the delusion of “promised lands,” after Palestine and Lebanon, is Turkey.

The result? Not only has Netanyahu not gone all this time, but he has killed 50 thousand people in Palestine... Syria has ultimately reached our borders via Iran...

UNABLE TO TOUCH TRUMP AND KÜRECIK

Our stance in the face of the major attack where the Iranian state was practically decapitated is well-known. In a written statement, Erdoğan slammed Israel and Netanyahu and condemned the attacks on the “friendly and brotherly” country of Iran... Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned it in the “strongest terms”...

But not a single word was uttered against the US, Israel's encourager and supplier, or Trump.

Yet, hours before those statements were made, Trump had announced that he was behind the attacks and that subsequent attacks would be even more ruthless.

Despite this announcement, it was also interesting that MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, a partner in the People's Alliance, could still say, “The US must position itself on the right side of history and humanity!”!..

Just as Trump could not be touched, demands to close the Kürecik base in Malatya were brushed off as follows:

“The Kürecik Radar Base was established in line with Turkey's national security and national interests and aims to protect NATO-allied countries. Data obtained from the Kürecik Radar Base is shared only with NATO-allied countries within a specific framework under NATO procedures. It is absolutely out of the question for data obtained from the radar base in question to be shared with non-NATO-allied countries such as Israel. Black propaganda carried out in the opposite direction, if not a product of negligence, are destructive acts that can only be evaluated within the scope of 5th column activity.”

Yes, Israel is not a NATO ally, but aren't its biggest allies, the US, France, and Germany, in NATO? Will those who do not spare weapons and support spare the data in Kürecik?!

It is clear that Ankara, which has engaged in “diplomatic” efforts primarily before Trump following the condemnations, either does not understand or does not care about the threat and danger coming our way.

Moreover, even when the senior partner Bahçeli has said the following:

“Our country is surrounded by fire... Fulfilling much more than the tiresome, feeble, and sterile condemnation messages that serve no purpose other than saving the day, in an active and multi-dimensional way, is a matter of honor and dignity for both global justice and human dignity... Of course, Turkey is at the crux of the developments... The final target is Turkey... The power of words has ended, and the search for diplomacy and dialogue is losing its effect at every opportunity and time.”

LIKE A REGIONAL GOVERNOR/TRUSTEE, NOT AN AMBASSADOR

Let's go back a little.

When Trump appointed his closest friend and businessman Tom Barrack as Ambassador to Ankara, it was emphasized that “they expect him to do extraordinary work.” Likewise, it was announced that Trump told Erdoğan, “We trust you in the region... We will work with you on our regional policies.”

Barrack did not come to Ankara with one hat, but two; he was given the title of Trump's Special Envoy for Syria. With this title, he met with Syrian President Colani and the head of the Syrian PKK, Mazlum Kobani. Finally, he went to Jerusalem and talked about Syria with Netanyahu.

A man appointed as a governor or trustee to the region, isn't he?!

This man recently appeared on NTV and explained the “regional policies” that Trump will work on with Erdoğan.

For example; he said that the PKK/YPG, disguised as the “Syrian Democratic Forces,” is an “important” “ally” for Washington...

He spoke of a new dialogue process between Turkey, the Gulf, Syria, and Israel, described this as “getting rid of the Shiite crescent,” and targeted Iran...

He wanted Turkey to convince the region that “Israel does not want land”...

As if he were the owner of our country and the region, he said: “We live in a very difficult region, in a very difficult zip code. But Turkey is coping in an incredible way. We have our Greece, we have our Cyprus, there is Iran, there is Russia, there is Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan. We have our Egypt, our Gulf, our Russia, and our China. Surprisingly, it is navigating through all of this.”

But it was not these that were highlighted; his words, “Sykes-Picot divided Syria and the wider region not for peace, but for imperial gain. This mistake cost generations. We will not do this again,” were brought to the fore - while his words targeting Lausanne were censored.

The question, “What are you replacing Sykes-Picot with, the Greater Middle East Project (BOP)?” was not asked. Even though he explicitly voiced the other pillar of the BOP, “moderate Islam,” besides the division of 22 countries, with the words, “You have an exemplary population of moderate Islam and secularism.”

In return for all this, he bestowed the “carrot” of trade upon Turkey, with an emphasis on “people who are currently suffering from the situation in the economy”!..

What we are saying is; the Iran attack was coming loud and clear.

WHO NEEDS TRUMP?

However, pro-government writers praised this trustee of Trump as follows:

“Tom Barrack is speaking as a diplomat of this new policy. This shows that an era has closed, that the 'era of finger-wagging ambassadors' is over, and that a new era that will reduce the rising hostilities between the US and Turkey has begun.”

“Those before Trump looked at Syria as the 'Yugoslavia of the Middle East.' Now they are looking through the lens of Turkey and the Neo-Ottoman.”

“Regional countries are trying to be an actor in the new balance of power in the Middle East, which is formed under Turkey's leadership and supported by the US. Israel, which went to Damietta for rice, will lose the bulgur at home. In short, a new Middle East entering a post-Zionist era is being formed.”

After the Iran attack, the same pens began to command the following:

“Israel's war with Iran is just one stage. Turkey is in the next stage. Because this is an imperial war. A crusade. The main target country is Turkey, which is in the position of the 'steel core' of the Islamic world.”

“Now the 'Greater Israel Project' is in play. As it was in the past, the biggest obstacle in front of Zionist goals is again Turkey. They destroyed the Ottoman Empire and established Israel, but they will not be able to destroy the New Turkey and establish 'Greater Israel'.”

The praises that the government's voice Abdülkadir Selvi showered upon Trump just two days before the Iran attack were also quite something:

“Trump warning the murderer Netanyahu in the White House, saying 'Be reasonable, Bibi,' and his praising words about President Erdoğan are enough for me to take my hat off to him. Furthermore, I believe that Trump's Syria policy is to our benefit and has a positive effect on the PKK's disarmament and liquidation process. Trump's approach to Syria alone and its contribution to the PKK's disarmament are enough for me to support him... In the Syria process, in his stance against Netanyahu, and in the PKK's disarmament stage, we need Trump. Especially because of his relations with President Erdoğan. That is why he should have a long life.”

Let's see, will he be able to say “We need Trump” after the Iran attack too?!

In short; since the plain truth that has been implemented step by step for 20 years is the “BOP” and the “Greater Israel” project; doesn't the government urgently need to answer the question, “Are you in or out of the co-presidency?”?

Müyesser YILDIZ

June 16, 2025