Turkish Strategy & the War in Ukraine - Arms, Economics, Negotiations & Pragmatism

Sponsored by Private Internet Access: www.piavpn.com/Perun
Description:
Ankara's role during the war in Ukraine is a complex and sometimes controversial one. As a NATO member but not an EU state, the Turks have continued to expand their trade with Russia and have continued an open dialogue with Moscow. On the other hand, Türkiye's military industry has supplied Ukraine even before the full scale invasion and Turkish policy has been full throated in its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity - including Crimea.
Turkish policy is complex and, to use the words of a former NATO assistant Secretary General - compartmentalised. It often involves cooperation even with potential strategic rivals, and sometimes tense and transactional interactions with general allies. In this episode I wanted to explore the nation's defence capabilities, economic and strategic situation, and see how that may have helped inform Erdogan's policy in Ukraine - and how that policy may impact the war going forward.
Patreon:
/ perunau
Caveats & Corrections:
All normal caveats and comments apply.
At one point I refer to the versions of the TX 'we see flying' - that's a turn of phrase but deceptive as TX is not currently flying. It is expected to fly this year using the F110 engines.
As noted - apologies for the issues of pronunciation and uniformity of use when it comes to using old vs new naming conventions for Türkiye
Relevant Reading or sources:
I am currently in transit and don't have my source list for this video at hand, but will upload it when I can.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Turkish Strategy & The War In Ukraine
00:01:45 - What Am I Talking About?
00:02:44 - Sponsor: PIA
00:04:25 - Naming And Politics Caveats
00:04:56 - History
00:09:26 - Türkiye And NATO
00:19:55 - Strategic Position
00:21:52 - The Military Force
00:27:23 - The Military Spending
00:33:30 - Towards Self-Reliance
00:41:58 - The Economic Position
00:49:03 - Relations With Russia
00:54:35 - Relations With Ukraine
01:01:20 - Their Role Going Forward
01:02:36 - Conclusions
01:03:36 - Channel Update

[@PerunAU]

Sponsored by Private Internet Access, Use the following link to access their promotional offer: www.piavpn.com/Perun Apologies for the delay on this one - jetlag is no fun and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. After doing the video on the Black Sea last week I realised that I had to talk about the Turkish role in the war more - which in turn would mean looking at Ankara's defence strategy, economic situation and how that shaped and guided the actions of this unique NATO member state. As I'm travelling, the posting of the source list for this video may be somewhat delayed, but please note any corrections as normal - including the reference to the Kaan flying when it's not at that point in development yet - I meant it 'will' be flying. Thanks again for your patience and support.

[@sarjannarwan6896]

Could you consider a video on coups / specifically in relation to Niger? Or maybe the state of play in Africa?

[@RG001100]

Stay healthy and well. :)

[@JB-pu8ik]

No need to apologize for delays. We value quality and depth over breathless hot takes. If you work yourself to death, I won't be able to spend Sunday mornings learning new things from the Slavic god of powerpoint.

[@jakeku2662]

Walk around on the carpet and make fists with your toes. I heard it does wonders. Thanks as always for the top notch content.

[@fightforaglobalfirstamendm5617]

Kick turkey out of NATO! Stand with Greece, Cyprus, Armenian and Kurdistan! Justice for the Greek, Assyrians, Kurds and Armenians!

[@breedloveguy]

Describing the Balkans and the Middle East as "historical thunder domes" was the most perfect descriptor any of us will hear this week.

[@realCarlosMazda]

Agreed! Now, if we could only get Perun to accurately describe this current conflict in Ukraine, instead of simping for disheartened NAFO geeks - Life woud be perfect.

[@knighter1209]

@@realCarlosMazda reality doesnt conform to ur personal world views, nor should perun

[@realCarlosMazda]

@@knighter1209 You haven't a bloody clue of my world views. Keep getting your war insights from an Aussie who's never fought. Reality will soon slap you in your chubby face

[@morgothastartes]

@@knighter1209 Reality does not conform to western propaganda either.

[@ldhorricks]

@@realCarlosMazda perhaps you might try adding something of value here...

[@jaymacpherson8167]

Perun, any disruptions are normal as the channel is not your primary occupation. I consider each episode a gift, regardless of time span between episodes.

[@jedkeenan00]

Here here.

[@protobodo6685]

Yes

[@paullilly9645]

Amen

[@joshuaharlow4241]

I second this!

[@racebiketuner]

Same.

[@jamesklee]

USS Shippy McShipface went on to become the most decorated and feared vessel in modern US naval history.

[@JM-mh1pp]

Year 2430 We stand here on the beginning of interstellar age with five ships named after the most legendary and distinguisged vessels of history Enterprise Essex Ajax Piorun Shippy McShipface

[@Marinealver]

shut up and take my money

[@jedkeenan00]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface By popular demand.

[@zurielsss]

I am not an American but will pay to vote for the name myself Heck, I bet even the Iranians will pay to get that name on an aircraft carrier

[@khornedbeef7916]

You just know the crew would love that name, especially if the ship was also financed by donations.

[@steveolotu52]

You know someone is too deep into geopolitics if they speak about their own personal life in terms of "I will be going into a period of instability".

[@swang30]

The Sengoku Perun period?

[@xanmontes8715]

​@@swang30hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! I am using that from now on...

[@CoryCothrum]

Watching your videos feels like sitting in a class (in the best way). Except, this isn't based in textbooks and predictions; this is real world high level data being digested down into an intermediate format for people without degrees in defense economics or global affairs. Plus you have a great mix of humor spiced in. Very entertaining, very informative, very fun. Thanks for making these videos.

[@herrgreubel2584]

Exactly this. As a teacher, I highly enjoy Peruns Mix of clear thoughts, informative content, and engaging side comments and jokes.

[@sabbasdsouza6978]

Great content. Very minor question, but do you have to roll the 'r' like the way Perun say Turkiye's new name?

[@yilmaz101]

@@sabbasdsouza6978 the correct pronunciation requires the Ü to be pronounced as the ew in jewel (had to add the last two letters :) r to be stressed, it sounds like "tewr key yeah".

[@sabbasdsouza6978]

@@yilmaz101 thanks. Really well researched and informative and entertaining content. I'd like his take un some underreported but substantial increasing military spending in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Possibly his take on the situation in Africa which is the most underreported in the world.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@yilmaz101 It sounds to me more like the ö in German, but don't take my word for it as I am not a native speaker of either language.

[@ndrstrl1142]

I’ve lost friends and family in the Ukrainian defense... maybe this sounds weird but your videos help me; no bullshit or sensation, but information that helps make sense of it all. You’re real signal in the noise. Thank you for your effort

[@Legiion513]

Perun: "I'll cover the Turks some day. It'll happen." Perun the very next week:

[@MTerrance]

When I worked in Turkey in the late 1990's it was common for office workers to pool their spare cash to invest in apartments - as in they would buy a plot and start a building as a group. It was the only way to preserve the value of their paychecks short of converting the lira to dollars or euros. They were effectively acting as a buying coop. Note that the apartments would not be finished out - as in still needing enclosure, flooring, interior wall coverings, wiring, lighting, cabinets, and even plumbing. In short, what they would own would be the shell of an apartment. Mortgages were effectively nonexistent. So the value of the units was about 40% of the value of an actual finished apartment (my wild ass guess). Furthermore, the construction of the apartment buildings would start and stop as funds were secured, since the value of the lira was constantly dropping so how much concrete you could buy was constantly decreasing (more lira per cubic yard of concrete). So you would see an apartment building begin construction, pause for weeks, surge forward for a couple weeks, pause, etc. All that would be built would be the structure. Later apartments would be finished and the building slowly fully enclosed. The exteriors were a total hodgepodge with each apartment owner making independent choices for materials. I thought it was rather ingenious.

[@yilmaz101]

Those were actually building cooperatives. The same financing model still exists but recent availability of mortgage financing decreased their popularity over the past two decades. They may make a resurgence unless the govt. gets inflation under control though.

[@MTerrance]

@@yilmaz101 Yilmaz, I really loved Turkey. The Turks were delightful. Smart. Conscientious. The currency was a mess. When I started the TL was worth about 650,000 TL to the US dollar. Within the three years I worked there the exchange rate was about 1.2 million TL to the dollar. Brutal. There were foreign exchange accounts offered by the banks but I seem to recall that changed. I still have some lira notes in denominations of over 1,000,000 TL - worthless now of course.

[@thatindiandude4602]

​@@MTerrancein India, there is something similar. Except far more corrupt, inefficient and you are rolling the dice on the apartment still standing.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

Until there's an earthquake.

[@TheBitter73]

@@dsnodgrass4843 That is true anywhere that is prone to earthquakes. Or maybe not earthquakes, maybe its just poor management and inspection like say Florida. Lots of condos built on speculation on the coast. That then would sit empty for a while until the local economy ticked up. Then it appears they come crashing down on their residents.

[@Lungomono]

The world: "Hi Turkey, what is your stance to this Ukraine war thing? Who do you support in what degree?" Turkey: "Yes!"

[@lamwen03]

"Mars is very bright tonight".

[@Jethr001]

Be great if they stood for world justice…right now they are killing Ukrainians by supporting Russia

[@kennethng8346]

What are you, Vorlon?

[@Badpak.]

A better answer would be: Turkiye: Me.

[@leonchervez5969]

@@kennethng8346 He has always been here.

[@rafanadir6958]

I'm from Bulgaria and in spite of a lot of bad blood, I think there's something the Turks master very well - it's called alış veriş and it's a word that means something like trade, but with a lot of negotiating. Sometime I wish we had learnt it too!

[@Edimonde]

It comes at a cost, Turkey is viewed as very shifty and untrustworthy, at least now under Erdogan.

[@Scyborg832]

I think its more that Turkey knows how to utilize leverage in a way that gives its associates no other choice than to give in. It's about knowing what you're worth and knowing when and how to extract value from partnerships. It's a much more honest or open version of modern diplomacy as we know it.

[@Userext47]

@@Edimonde That is misattribution. Turkey is viewed as such because of the diasporas within western countries. These are significant enough to shift votes. All countries bargain (it's called bargaining btw) to get what they want. Turkey catches public eye about it since they are easier to single out on news and politics. Like for example how france's and germany's new tank project is stalled because france wants to keep majority of the production within france. You don't see much backlash against that Or how germany wanted to bargain with russia to keep them a partner and not an enemy by bribing them through nordstream 1 and 2. Or how US wants NATO countries to increase their spending so they threathened with pulling back support (trump era) Or how Biden and Scholz bargained over which tank to send first while UK broke the "escalation" excuse with sending chally 2s. Or how France and UK sent their limited supply of stormshadows that were produced in total 1500 with less than half of that remaining available to ukraine yet neither US with their 4000 ATACMS nor Germany with their 500 Taurus want to send theirs. Countries bargain all the time. They are just not made public enemy number one to gain votes from diasporas.

[@brlbrlbrlbrl]

@@Userext47 The issue isn't bargaining, it's bargaining publicly in bad faith. In negotiations Turkey agrees to one thing, then reneges on their word once it comes time to actually follow through, instead coming up with additional requirements once their negotiation partner is committed. This is not something that makes Turkey look like a trustworthy partner.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@Userext47I disagree. I think the main reason why the rest of NATO harbors so much distrust towards Erdogan’s Turkey is because of Erdogan’s authoritarian backsliding. It’s not a problem unique to Turkey but Turkey is the only major NATO power that’s fully devolved from a democracy into a Presidency-For-Life scam.

[@mp3545]

In addition to the deportation of the Tatars during WWII, it is also worth noting that Tatars were singled out and persecuted following the 2014 occupation of Crimea. Putin obviously wanted to further russify the territory, but the Tatar minority was also perceived both by Ukraine and Russia to be broadly opposed to the occupation.

[@JMM33RanMA]

This is an interesting observation. I have observed that possibly the only compromise acceptable [under duress] to both sides would be an independent Crimean Tatar Khanate under the protection of Türkiye. If Russia tried it's usual backstab, they would be obliterated by the Turks, and they know it!

[@advancetotabletop5328]

Unfortunately, Russia’s policy / excuse of invading other countries to “protect” Russians means Poland has withdrawn visas of Russians in Poland. Putin’s policies continue to ruin the lives of the Russian people.

[@wisenber]

@@JMM33RanMA " If Russia tried it's usual backstab, they would be obliterated by the Turks, and they know it!" I wouldn't bet on anything approaching obliteration. Turkey has some pretty sketchy neighbors with their own ties to Russia and being a Turkish protectorate doesn't offer an ability to hide behind NATO's skirt. However, I imagine most Turkic nationalists would jump at the opportunity to recapture the glory days of the Ottomans. Armenians....not so much.

[@live_free_or_perish]

​@JMM33RanMA an interesting option. I wonder if the decision makers have considered that.

[@wisenber]

@@live_free_or_perish Remember, Russia annexed Crimea in the first place when Ukraine announced they would end their naval lease. That, and effectively having a Turkish colony established wouldn't go over very well with the neighborhood.

[@AntonioDal.]

Excellent video! Turkey can't afford severe economic sanctions on Russia because of its own weak economy. For the rich EU with 451M population, Russian countersanctions aren't a big problem. Russia and Turkey have an economic relationship not because they like each other, but because they don't have much choice. Turkey is one of the few countries like the USA and UK who provided lethal weapons to Ukraine before the war even started, unlike many other NATO countries who were afraid of upsetting Putin's feelings. It also blocked the Bosporus strait for naval ships, which greatly helped Ukraine since the start of the war, as Russia can't bring military ships from the oceans to the Black Sea. Turkey is also waging a proxy war against Russia in Syria and Libya. The NATO member who has neutralized most troops of Assad (Syria) and Haftar (Libya) is Turkey. Assad and Haftar are both bloody puppets of Putin. The most common fallacy regarding Turkish foreign policy is to think that economical relationship is equal to military relationship. I believe that Turkey could do more to help Ukraine, but this also requires other NATO countries to acknowledge the tough neighborhood of Turkey, being the NATO frontline country surrounded by countries such as Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. If countries such as the USA brush this off and just continue their problematic Middle East foreign policy without taking Turkish security interests into consideration, then Turkey will be forced to move closer to countries such as Russia and China. Which isn't in NATO interests. Erdogan's domestic policy is pretty bad due to his authoritarian character, but his foreign policy from a NATO perspective is great and could be improved even further. I would also add that countries such as Germany and France blocked NATO membership preperation for Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 to not hurt Putin's feelings, while Turkey fully supported them joining NATO. A few months later Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. Dear Western leaders, appeasement politics towards Russia doesn't work.

[@georgedevries3992]

TLDR. Edit: Aight. Gave it a quick read. And all of it are half truths and the rest is bs. But hey, that's the job of a Turk bot, right? Presenting Turkey in a positive light while hiding the rest to fool primarily the West. Turkey has no business in Syria and Lybia. The TR army and it's mercenaries are in those countries in order to subjugate and/or kill the Kurds that live in northern Syria and establish a 30km long zone right at the border where Syrian refugees will be placed in homes where Kurds used to live in order to disrupt the demographic. And let's not forget that the areas that Turkey occupies there, it forces the population to learn and speak Turkish in order to erase the Syrian and Kurdish identity. As for Lybia, it maintains a presence there not to counter Russia but to control like a puppet the government of Tripoli and build military bases there with the eventuall aim to launch attacks at Greece from the south. None of these illegal military efforts on foreign soil has anything to do with Russia. Especially not when Turkey has excellent trade relations with Russia, it's oligarchs are residing there after the sanctions and Russia is building nuclear plants on Turkey. That is also the reason that Turkey won't impose sanctions on Turkey. Because it has too much to lose from it's excellent realtions with that state. A mafia state that is just like Turkey is. Spare us with your bs, Turk simp and go back to fabricate some more lies.

[@mcoskuntr]

On a channel like this this is not TLDR. I read it, thanks for sharing.

[@georgedevries3992]

@@mcoskuntr "On a channel like this this is not TLDR." That's not a valid excuse. It only shows that you got lots of time on your hands.

[@joeyjojojrshabadoo7462]

They were frankly completely legitimate reasons to reject NATO Ukraine and Georgia's bid in 2008. Even if Russia was totally cool with it (which it wasn't) they were both suffering from genuine internal political issues and corruption. The fact that France reversed it's membership Action plan resulting in America just changing it's position is telling about how genuine the offer was. I can't imagine how insulting it would be to see Finland getting before them but let's be honest those countries weren't Finland.

[@mcoskuntr]

@@georgedevries3992 This comment shows you waste/use your time with other stuff and don't know what you should really spend your time for. Regardless, it is matter of opinion.

[@GerinoMorn]

My neighbour was a local Tatar community leader, one of the warmest, most kind-spirited person I've ever knew. It is a shame what happened to them.

[@izak5356]

What happened to them?

[@CMY187]

Maybe that is a factor into why they became victims of the Russians and later the Soviets, then the Russians again; they were too nice. Sometimes there is no point in trying to be cordial or to engage in diplomacy with someone. Fear is the only thing that a bully understands.

[@thatindiandude4602]

​@@izak5356the Crimean tatars experienced numerous purges. Once under Stalin and again when Crimea fell.

[@thegratepotato1281]

And Turks did ( are doing) the same if not worse to Kurds. Just FYI.

[@beratoren7627]

@@thegratepotato1281 u are literally wrong tho

[@scratchguns]

Turkey also has a pretty good hand in the civilian firearms market specifically in the US. Some of the firearms made by TISAS and ZIG are very popular imports due to their overall high quality but for a much lower cost. It makes sense with your middle economy industry point. If those civilian guns were made in the US, they would easily cost 2 to 3x more than what they cost being made in Turkey. Just because Turkey can afford to make them much cheaper but with the same QC and materials.

[@mikefarino4368]

This video was really needed. The coverage of Turkey in the US is far far more negative than this. I had no clue how supportive of Ukrainian independence they were. Or their nato membership

[@georgedevries3992]

"I had no clue how supportive of Ukrainian independence they were." They aren't. The examples are all over the place. You just don't see them for SOME reason.

[@ThatPianoNoob]

Turkey is incredibly opportunistic.. So at least they are a good indicator for Russias downfall.

[@nif0]

shame really. the media craves polarization and conflict, Turkey's way of "balancing" their acts doesn't make for headlines so they amplify the negatives.

[@yusteryumeister4601]

​@@ThatPianoNooband can we really criticise turkey for being opportunistic when the US does stuff like funding the taliban/mujahadeen to fight the ussr, carpet bombing laos for being next to vietnam, invading iraq for oil, etc

[@georgedevries3992]

@@ThatPianoNoob Ehm, no? Russian nuclear plants being built on Turkey as well as deep trade relations. They are close af!

[@michaeljohnston6811]

Perun, please feel confident that you can take a couple of weeks' break and not lose your audience. Excellent overview this week and I learnt a massive amount that I didn't know.

[@deborahferguson1163]

Yes!!!

[@SappeREffecT]

I reserve the right to be annoyed, feel guilty for being annoyed and not unsub regardless if he does take a break because his content is top notch... I love these vids, truly.

[@yumazster]

Burnout is a thing so take the rest you need @Perun. Your output since the start of this mess was regular and of unheard of quality. I'm for one not going anywhere😊

[@spiritofthetime]

My knowledge of contemporary Turkish diplomatic and foreign relations is (was) mainly based on watching 1962's "From Russia with Love". Thanks for the primer, Perun.

[@advancetotabletop5328]

My knowledge are those dumb jokes we made about Turkey and Hungry in first grade. :P

[@TheKurtkapan34]

Regarding Greek help on the earthquake, the other week, when Greece was fighting its wildfires on the mainland and islands and Rhodes was being devastated, Turkey was also trying to handle multiple wildfires at the same time in multiple locations over a bigger geography. Turkey nonetheless sent 2 aircraft and an helicopter after Greeks asked for international help and Turkish help was utilized in Rhodes, to help put out the huge fire. We have our issues with Greece, they are mostly due to geopolitics of Aegean. But we will always help each other out, before we help ourselves if need be.

[@rommulasforthewin]

that's the point we may disagree on the policy's of there government but we do actually like the people it's like we've been neighbours for over a thousand years or something.

[@georgedevries3992]

Congratulations. You represent the 0.00000000001% of the Turkish population that doesn't want to murder every Greek on sight. And as for the help Turkey offered, we fully know why. In order for Erdie to present himself as a good boy to the West and get some much needed equipment and money. In other words, a charade. As for the wildfires, after years of harrasing Greece in many ways, I can easily imagine that not all of them started by accident and by natural means. Especially the ones on Rhodes and Corfu, two highly popular tourist destinations. Not to mention the ones that happened just outside of army bases and installations. Good lord, you Turks are insuffarable.

[@pingu9729]

​@@georgedevries3992alt-right keyboard warrior with outdated racial theories detected.

[@JMM33RanMA]

The US is in a similar situation. the Yankee North and Confederate South still act like political enemies, but in times of war and environmental disaster we 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 helped each other out.

[@MrBizteck]

I always chuckle at the Eurovision. Greece and Turkey always give each other 12 points. 😂

[@SSgtCalebP]

I’m amazed at how many adults can’t understand that different people (and countries) have different perspectives on things. I find Türkiye especially fascinating as that country has such a unique, long history and complex interests. As a transcontinental power with a strategic location, it’s really understandable why it has such a different approach to foreign policy. When you control the keys to the primary sea that Ukraine and Russia fight and depend on, it’s very understandable that they would often act differently.

[@lamwen03]

For example, Turkiye will have a substantially different view on it's relationship with Mexico than the US does.

[@SappeREffecT]

'group think' It's so common these days I fear for humanity in another decade or two. Honestly, pick a spectrum on any subject and you'll find it.

[@karmpuscookie]

Quite a patronising post.

[@toxichuman208]

Turkey's situation is understandable. But how can it be explained that USA, UK and Australia are kicking France with the AUKUS agreement? :)

[@dougredshirt3991]

My first job in the Air Force was in F-16 simulators in the early 80s. We used to host foreign air forces that flew F-16s. At one point the scheduling officer had managed to schedule both the Turks and the Greeks on the same 2 weeks. Was an interesting 2 weeks. One group came in the morning to use the simulators and the other group came after lunch. If I remember right there was always a security police car or two parked across the street during the lunch hour. Luckily their handlers did a good job of making sure there was no meeting of the two groups. I don't remember if we took down that picture of a Greek F-16 flying over the Acropolis in Athens, that was in the hallway.

[@ToastyMozart]

Did they get to do a big team dogfight at the end of the training?

[@jupiterbirlesikgezegenleri9884]

​@@ToastyMozart well idk about it but they are doing team dog fights irl

[@TheKurtkapan34]

Civilians collecting money to build ships also has a history in Turkey. In 1910s, Turkish populace pooled in an absurd amount of money to buy two dreadnaughts from UK for the Ottoman navy. When the war broke out and UK decided to keep the ships AND the money the Turkish people paid for them, Germans swooped in and basically gave Goeben and cruiser Breslau to Turkey. Turkey would follow Germany into WW1, just a few weeks later. British not giving the ships angered people greatly and public favored joining the war in the side of the Germans.

[@Inkling777]

Failing to deliver those ships proved very costly to the British. With the Turks on the side of the Germans, the British were forced into their disastrous Gallipoli campaign. That resulted in some 300,000 British, French, Australian and New Zealand casualties, including almost 57,000 deaths. The only part of that campaign the Brits did right was their stealthy withdrawal.

[@romulusnuma116]

I don't think that actually matter to which side the ottomans joined give their opinion on the Russians

[@Destroyer_V0]

@@Inkling777 Which, depending on who you ask, can't even fully be attributed to brittish officers anyway. (And by the way it was taught here down under, in public schools anyway, the British participation in galipolli, at their beach further south, is basically never talked about)

[@philip8498]

​@@Inkling777well, the british werent exactly forced into gallipoli, that was their own idiocy (or at least the commanders idiocy). But the fact that turkey had entered the war was an enourmous pain for britain regardless. They just made it artificially worse by being massively overconfident

[@msc7594]

The biggest issue with the confiscated warships from the Ottoman navy had to do with the fact that it allowed the Ottoman pro German camp to declare the entente to be anti-ottoman. Had the Ottomans receive those battleships, and later on when thegoeben and Breslau flight to Istanbul, the Ottomans and the British could have come to an agreement to just take those ships which would’ve been a diplomatic victory for the British greatly limiting German influence. Instead, the confiscation of those warships, and the handing over of the two German ships greatly needed Germans in drawing the Ottomans onto their side because even until the end of 1914, the ottoman empire journey, joining World War I was extremely uncertain

[@SemihG22]

As a long time viewer and a Turk, I'd like to thank you for making this video. Clears up a lot of confusion that you see in the media. Our country and especially our government never had good press in foreign countries resulting in usually bad publicity, sometimes down right hostile behaviour, though I wouldn't claim some weren't well deserved. I just wish our neighborhood was stable and less violent, not just for us. That aside, I wish all our friends in uniforms and trenches fighting for the survival of their nation, the best. Hope you and your comrades come home to see your country's flag in sky and smiles in your family's faces.

[@georgedevries3992]

Perhaps for most, but there is no confusion here. I know exactly what Turkey is all about. No wonder the bad press you get. Serves your country right. Mayhap one day my fellow Europeans will wake tf up and see Turkey for the turncoat it is.

[@thegratepotato1281]

Respect the Kurds and you’ll do way better. But that seems to be out of the question for Turks.

[@bret9741]

I spent time in Turkey while in the Navy in the 1980’s. At that time, it was as common to see a ox pulling a wagon as it was a tractor. What was stunning is how beautiful Turkey is. At that the the population was much much smaller than today. Roman ruins in very very good condition we’re everywhere. I fell in love with Turkey.

[@oghuzkhan5117]

In my village we pulled with ox :)) and harvest was done with hands using that stuf reaper use. i dont know the word. Only rich people had tractor. Today thanks to Erdogan every farmer has at least 1 or more tractors.

[@Korkuthan87778]

@@oghuzkhan5117 The word you are looking for is "scythe" :)

[@amyiyen]

​@@oghuzkhan5117 Aynen aga erdoğandan hahaha. 90 yıllarda akıllı telefonu da yoktu kimsenin sağolsun reisimiz sayesinde herkesin elinde var bi tane.

[@alcosound]

Thanks for the video. As a Greek, I had a hard time understanding the Turkish strategy and priorities regarding the war in Ukraine, and dare I say this presentation clarified lots of aspects for me

[@georgedevries3992]

So, what is your opinion on them?

[@alcosound]

@@georgedevries3992 Obviously, Turkey is trying to serve their own interests (and I don't see anything bad with that - foreign relations are about aligning forces and interests between countries, ethics are a luxury) That said, they are playing a very complex game. There's a great pressure against the lira, and that 'compartmentalization' of their foreign affairs is going to backfire eventually, I think. And what happens when Erdogan dies? Will this complex balance continue to operate? Too many variables for a serious analysis, so I guess that everybody is improvising at the moment.

[@arimoff]

Erdogan, like sadam, claims to be a reincarnation of sultan, just like Sadam claimed he was nebogudanassar. Erdogan wants the ottoman empire back, like russia and Britain, old ex empires dreaming of good all days. That's why they are all invloved in ukraine. But no one, not eastern Europe not arabs want turks to come back, they all remember turkish brutality.... Every time Erdogan fails and wants muslims on his side, he barks at israel. Erdogan is a garbage. He is not even a turk. His ancestors are Georgian.

[@jjj8317]

​@@alcosoundthe Saga with Sweden was very simple. The EU considers the PKK a terrorist group for blowing up civilians in turkey and Europe, yet Sweden houses convicted terrorist. That point is unchanged even if secularists took over Turkey as the PKK hates all turks as a whole. Even the party where the leader is Kurdish, can't support Sweden doing that as the majority of Kurds men actually serve the Turkish military. So it was fairly straight forward. Also, Turkey still allows Russians in but the situation is quite different: 1) Turkey has a large population and large number of Russians won't change the geopolitical landscape. Unlike in Georgia or Armenia 2) Turks are only giving Russians trourist visas, so they can't do much in the country but use foreign currency. Which is what Turkey wants, to get the Russian dollars that the rest of Europe turns down lol. 3) Since they are allowing Russians in, Turkey can still have relations with Russia which gives them a lot of pull. The only country in nato in that position. 4) Turkey wants help Ukraine contain Russia and to have Crimea handed back as the Crimean natives the Russians suppress are also Turkic 5) Currently they get to help Ukraine more than most NATO countries and still take money from the Russians while also being able to negotiate with them (which no western country can atm) Makes sense to me

[@20chocsaday]

There is a perception that neither country is happy being so close to each other.

[@robertmoyse4414]

This was by far the best analysis of this issue I have yet heard. To put that in perspective, I have had involvement with the Turks and Ukrainians and worked in military strategy for years.

[@petbabyrammus8467]

Wish this was a 2 hour video where you could also discuss about Turkish/Russian proxy conflict in Azerbaijan, Libya, Syria and other parts of the Africa. Amazing video!

[@Oscar_SanJuan]

"Now, we're gonna talk about everyone's favorite topic, defense economics" Jokes on you, I'm into that shit!

[@Jopey_Meow]

Happy Perun Day to us all! Your videos are proving to be the most relevant source for analysis of current events that I have found on all of KZbin. You deserve every bit of success you've received on this platform. I never would've imagined a year ago that PowerPoint presentations of an Aussie talking about war would become my favorite genre of video, but here we are. You're an absolute gem and such an asset to the platform. Thank you for the time you spend and the fact you share this info with us at all. Hope you're well. 🏆

[@IsaakSpy]

Agree 100%

[@squireson]

It is a major disappointment to me that this level of discussion simply doesn't exist on major news outlets. For God's sake DW, France 24, BBC, or even CNN need to have Peru on a panel or six !!

[@Jopey_Meow]

@@squireson Absolutely agree. I get a good deal of that stuff in my feed, and every single time, I'm just amazed at how much it pales in comparison to even part of one of Perun's videos. Like these videos are making me really understand what the difference is between true analysis and the opinions of talking heads that passes for analysis on major news outlets. It should be criminal.

[@Matthews_Resume]

@@squireson May I suggest🤫 he not be on the panel rather leading the Broadcast.

[@Quietshow]

This video has increased my opinion of Turkey in a somewhat positive direction. Cool.

[@jackthorton10]

Same for me as well, never thought I’d have a slight change of heart

[@reidszimmerman]

Dont know why but this might be one of my favorite videos from you. "Put drones on their drones so you can drone people while you drone them" 😂

[@derryohalloran]

The fact you're able to put even one of these together more than once a month is pretty remarkable. Insane amount of detail. Great work dude, big fan from 🇨🇦

[@s2wuolf508]

Not to be a sour kraut, love these videos but the rate he is pumping these are genuinely kind of suspicious. If he is really that efficient maybe he truly is just built different

[@VeilingSun]

@@s2wuolf508 He mentioned he has a small team at this point I think. In his line of work he may have cultivated some incredibly resourceful people. Plus it's not like he's animating anything or doing serious editing. It's almost just pure research and someone making a script and him reading it out.

[@s2wuolf508]

@@VeilingSun Good point on animating part, has there been any mentions of his team members? Or is that info not said for privacy and safety reasons for his team members. Don't mind being wrong, it'd be great if there has been a post or smthg explaining how he works and make this video while also holding a job

[@VeilingSun]

@@s2wuolf508 Perun is fiercely private.

[@elidas1008]

I am happy Turkey was covered, my respect for them was wavering for I didn't understand their foreign policy, now I respect it.

[@samedaltun]

Today, the western media not only does not show what Israel is doing, but also deceives people with its anti-Turkish news.

[@hasanrize]

There is one more thing when it comes to project funding. Sometimes companies fund those projects by themselves. For example, the Hürjet project was started by TUSAŞ with their own money. Similarly, that 5th gen fighter project supposes to have an engine project, and that engine development has not started officially. However, TUSAŞ and TEI started it independently from a state bid with their own money. Those companies belong to the foundation you mentioned. However, they are part of a big global market. TUSAŞ is one of the biggest subcontractors for Airbus and Boeing, TEI, on the other hand, produces parts for almost all engines made by GE. Unlike military projects, those companies have no problem in the civil sector and they made quite a good amount of money. That money sometimes being used for funding military projects such as Hürjet and TF-X engines.

[@kevinlindstrom6752]

I really appreciate Turkey's complex situation and how they have found a way to work through all that without being binary in it's thinking. Thank you for all this detail. I also appreciate how Turkey, India and China have basically used the Russians, taking advantage of their weakened position to bleed them.

[@santiagopayan2531]

Yes and USA had used Europe to bleed them hahah. These comments are getting every day more stupid hahaha Yet Russia continues fighting while Europe is about be dissolved, so I am sure you are right.

[@boracigdem3779]

Some extra informations. Turkey closed the bosphorus for crossings of russian military ships shortly after invading UKR. The first peace talks between UKR and RU were held in TR, with TR as a mediator. Besides that Türkiye is a strategig ally of UKR and provided already many weapon systems like MLRS systems etc. long before many western countries decided to do. Even after the invasion Germany wanted to send 3000 helmets instead of lethal weapons. Besides that there are strong military ties between TR and UKR. There are 2 ukranian military ships currently under construction in TR. UKR is providing engines (motor sich) for many projects in TR like helicopters or drones etc. All in all you gave a balanced view of TR politics. Generally they dont in western media.

[@georgedevries3992]

You find it "balanced" because it suits you. Cry some more, welp.

[@afd1040]

@@georgedevries3992 Oh please go bother someone else with your racist ass bs.

[@afd1040]

@@georgedevries3992 lol what a racist bigot.

[@ticijevish]

Don't stress over a release schedule. Your audience is loyal and will gloss over a few monday uploads, now and then, so long as the schedule remains largely kept to. Your warning comes too late, Bezos is already working on a mandatory Amazon Services Conscription Program. Also, Shippy McShipface is the name of the future flagship of the Royal Navy, not the US Navy. Keep up the great work!

[@squireson]

Please take a week off. "If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything!" --- The Six Fingered Man

[@swj719]

Honey, get the kids, the PowerPoint Aussie is back!

[@vic5015]

Interesting. My family is Korean abd i never knew that both Turkey and Greece took part in the Korean War on the UN side. I'm sure that my family, on *both* sides, is grateful for the assistance.

[@zurielsss]

The Korean War is led by a joint UN army, even Ethiopia had 1200 troops fighting for South Korea, Thailand and Philippines supported with troops too. Even Japan who is nuked a decade ago had medical officers supporting the South

[@daveloch905]

I travelled through Turkey for s months and ended up on some tour with a young Korean. We went in to a restaurant for lunch and a Turkish veteran from Korea was there. He became very emotional and tried to talk to the young Korean man to share his experience. It all went over the young man’s head unfortunately and he ignored the vet…… it was quite heartbreaking to watch

[@franceyneireland1633]

A good friend of mine , her father was killed fighting with the Canadian military in the Korean War.

[@rccasual7525]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqPNpJSHa6iFpZY

[@elmasmelih]

check the movie called 'ayla' about a turkish sergeant and a korean girl

[@elninion]

23:44 "It should be noted that over the last couple of years turkish and greek parts have also had plenty of opportunities to accumulate additional flying hours and experience regularly intercepting and locking out each other." It has been happening for at least the last forty years, actually.

[@Userext47]

Might actually be the two most experienced air to air fighting F-16 fleets in whole of NATO airforce due to this it's only half a joke

[@user-bi7xd8ry5p]

@Userext47 We would be talking about the two most experienced airforces if it was 2015. But after the attempted coup the Turkish airforce was absolutely gutted and they are still trying to rebuild.

[@pozzyjr1675]

​@@user-bi7xd8ry5pWildly, wildly wrong. A dozen pilots isn't something an airforce with 300 combat aircraft can't get over

[@user-bi7xd8ry5p]

@pozzyjr1675 A dozen? Then why do the official reports of the Turkish airforce talk about losing hundreds of pilots? Also why do the Turkish media speculate that after the coup 600 to 700 were sacked?

[@pozzyjr1675]

@@user-bi7xd8ry5p You said it yourslef. Speculation. Official number of sacked pilots were a dozen. Including Army Aviation

[@osirex5495]

Turkey is playing the perfect middle man role. Supplying both sides with positives while furthering their own interest

[@mertruc.5242]

As Turkish I can say this is is well prepared and informative video about overall our country without being biased so congrats for your efforts

[@evilbron666]

"...because the Turks couldn't resist adding drones to the drones so you could drone people while you are droning them." Probably the best description you have given of anything so far I reckon. :)

[@clmdcc]

I would also say that Turkey's economy at the start of the war was so shaky that they could not "survive" if they were to fully join the sanctions or fully go against them.

[@talatguneyli13]

Simple as that . West wants Turkiye join the sanctions but how they will survive , they dont care.

[@mikegould6590]

I probably learned more about Turkey in 1hr than I have over the last 50 years

[@miraphycs7377]

Turkish MIC designs their indiginous weapons around NATO standard/tactics/doctrine. Yet, their labor cost is very low lower than China or Russia. Thus, if you look at African and Middle Eastern market, indeed due to its lower price and much safer NATO standards it has stolen many sales and marketshare away from Chinese and Russian competition(traditional strong player in the region) even before the Ukraine War. It has accelerated even more since then. Indeed the Russian MIC said that biggest threat to them is Turkish vehicles not Chinese American European or Korean. Also out of all the NATO countries or NATO equipment, the Turkish ones have the most experience against Chinese equipment. For example Turkish anti-drone laser weapons were able to down couple of those Wing Long MQ-9 Reaper knockoffs in Africa and their drones were effective against some Chinese equipment operated by the Armenians. If you want a NATO/western standard equipment on a cheap, look no further.

[@Ghatbkk]

It's about time that a balanced view of Turkey was put out. Very well done.

[@murphy7801]

I mean skips over genocide, treaty breaking, invading neighbours. Hence why it's been sanctioned many times.

[@ylmazirdenyazc8393]

​​@@murphy7801 There was only one time when we invaded a Neigbour, and it was after spending months trying to get United Kingdom and Republic of Greece to a diplomatic agreement to solve the Ethnic conflicts within Cyprus, and you guys didnt Give a damn as Turkish Cypriots came really close to sharing the fate of Cham Albanians under Metaxas at best, Bosniaks in Srebrenica at worst, a mix of both more likely. İf there is anyone to blame for Cyprus, its British, wich i believe isnt the first time their rule destabilized a region.

[@ylmazirdenyazc8393]

​​@@murphy7801 plus, he also never mentioned Russian Genocides of the Circassians, them killing half of Checnya and Dagestan, Soviet Deportations and many many more, i have never seen someone reminding him of it? Though judging from the fact that Genociding 250K Turkish Cypriots is more preferable to you rather than the current situtation makes me believe that you just like many others also believe that when you are Muslim or Turkic Speaking, either your deaths and sufferings never happened or even if they did they deserved it? And everything i said here means nothing to you.

[@Ghatbkk]

@@murphy7801 Feel free to do your own video on Turkish history. Good luck.

[@Sikader]

@@ylmazirdenyazc8393 I'm really interested to know why both the current Iraqi and Syrian governments want the Turkish troops out of their respective countries, if Turkey invaded only one country so far...

[@StantonSchonberg]

Informative video that has increased my positive opinion of Turkey given a better understanding of its complicated situation, having started with a rather negative one based upon the initial resistance to Finland and Swedens ascension to NATO. I appreciate having my preconceptions challenged with solid information.

[@samedaltun]

My friend, we want the NATO union to be strengthened. But Sweden still keeps members of the terrorist organization in its country. I was a Kurd too, but the PKK/YPG terrorist organization is a deceived separatist organization. Protests held in Sweden are not freedom of expression. Turkey approved Finland. We approved Greece, with whom we fought in Cyprus in the past, to become a member of NATO. States do not hold grudges and make decisions based on their interests and security concerns. NATO and the European Union are making hypocritical decisions and slandering the Turkish state in the press. Why was Iraq invaded in the past? It was invaded on the grounds that it had chemical weapons. So why is Israel, which has illegally admitted its nuclear power in our south, supported rather than reacted to?

[@Pincer88]

As someone having highly mixed feelings about Türkiye's stance in the Ukrainian war, I must say you did change my perspective. In a sense you convinced me, that Türkiye does pretty well in doing what every sensible nation should do in its situation. Apart from its monetary policies that is, of course. One request if you allow me @Perun. You mention game theory at times. Being only vaguely familiar with the term and unfortunately being struck with post-covid malaise, that demands that I'm very selective in which channels to follow - and which has deisbled my reading capabilities (your videos I have to watch in sections before taking a break) - I hope you'll make a video on that theory some day. I find your way of presenting very accessible and I wouldn't want to have it from anyone else but you. Excellent video again: sincerest compliments! And whatever the outcome of your schedule for uploading a new video: never mind. Each and everyone thus far has been worth the wait. Cheers from the Netherlands!

[@skp8748]

What do you know about its monetary policy? Turkey has kept low unemployment in inflationary market that's miraculous. The only REAL losers are foreign investors for Turks its short term pain but they don't get austerity like the Greeks or brits did

[@Pincer88]

@@skp8748 True. But instead the people inherit a state debt, that at a certain point will prove to be a concrete block around the ankles of the entire nation. And let's talk inflation too. If reporting is anywhere near accurate, prices are through the roof. As laudable as the premisses of halal finance are in my eyes (and they are), the nature of economics cannot be fooled.

[@LeftistMuslimGynocracy]

A question I'd love to see you tackle is: How do you fight a war where your opponent doesn't respect the rules of war?

[@asureaskie8955]

Traditionally, violations of the rules of war are addressed with an equivalent reprisal.

[@davitdavid7165]

1: showcase that and raly the public to induce sanctions. Will help in long term. 2: bait maybe?

[@edyknight9218]

Same I think that would make a good video though perhaps a little dark.

[@jintsuubest9331]

No one actually follows rules of war when actual war broke out afaik.

[@daseinzigwahrem]

​@@asureaskie8955Or to show the enemy's moral inferiority.

[@ollifrank6255]

Turkey didn’t change their name to Türkiye, in Turkish language the country was always called so. But Turkey requested that English speaking countries should change the English name of the country to the Turkish language name and they obliged. A bit like if Germany had asked to change the English name of their country to Deutschland. But non-English speakers continue calling Turkey by their own languages name: for example Türkei in German, or Turquia in Portuguese and Spanish etc.

[@burhanbudak6041]

The Latin name is Turkia, much better then the forced name.

[@buddy1155]

They shouldn't complain, it is the only country with an emoji 🦃

[@johnd2058]

Either way: KARABOGA

[@kyle18934]

​@buddy1155 you found their new national bird!

[@jakeaurod]

How about Gobblerstan?

[@tulsavol6653]

Outstanding analysis and commentary. Thank you. Gave me a more balanced understanding and appreciation for the complex decionmaking of the Turkish government...not just issues of Urkraine and Russia but a whole lot of other matters as well. To me it makes sense for Ukraine and Turkey to be long term friends and strongly cooperate with each other for improving their economies. Combined with Poland, I could see Poland-Ukraine-Turkey be a significant critical mass for everyone in their connective region having stronger economies along with NATO security--a non negotiable key element including Ukraine for overall stable quality of life.

[@beraalgun8117]

After suffering a lot of non sense from Ph.D's over the years, this video is like a cool breeze. I wished you could've added the NATO's lack of support after the Russian aircraft got shot down in 2015 but hey it's already an hour long video.

[@pll3827]

Generally, Turkiye tends to move in opposition to Russia under normal conditions than support - given that Russia is the historical regional rival to Turkiye. If I recall, the original reason behind the purchase of the S-400 system was due to the withdrawal of Patriot missiles from Turkiye due to NATO concerns about being drawn deeper into the Syrian conflict. Turkiye's shoot down of the Russian plane in 2014 also created more conflict with its NATO allies due to the concern that the former might further escalate the Syrian Civil War by potentially firing at Russian forces. Turkiye just wants the ability to do what it wants without being pressured by its 'allies' to go counter to its interests. Turkiye doesn't want to be a mere Western 'puppet', but it also doesn't want Russia's influence to expand.

[@MrNicoJac]

Your comment is worded _very_ one-sidedly... Like, those last two sentences make sense from Turkey's perspective, sure. But if Turkey got to do _exactly_ what _it_ wanted to do, without paying _any_ attention to the interests of its allies, then all of its allies would basically become a puppet themselves, to the sole benefit of Turkey. As much as as anyone might hate Turkey being pressured by others, this is _still_ something that would be morally and intellectually dishonest to leave unmentioned. So for you to put allies in quotation marks without acknowledging that your logic works _both_ ways, comes across as rather immature/selfish/egocentric.

[@TheRedHavoc]

@@MrNicoJac There's a particular style of geopolitical/IR analysis that holds Western countries to a different standard than the rest of the world. The West is criticized when it fails to act in ways consistent with its values (as opposed to its interests), meanwhile every other country is given a pass to be as ruthless and interest focused as they see fit. Once you have see it once, you see it pop up in a lot of places (It typically goes hand in hand with an anti-Western view of the world).

[@MrNicoJac]

​@@TheRedHavoc As a Western IR scholar, I'd say you're sorta correct. But I'd also like to remind you that it's the West that _admonishes_ other countries for deviating from _Western_ ideals, and *_not_* tolerating any similar criticism in return :) So you can call that anti-Western. But I'd call it anti-hypocrisy. If the West didn't want its values to be adopted/respected _universally,_ we'd face _far_ less pushback... (which doesn't mean it's not right, but should help anyone understand why it can come across as so hubristic/annoying)

[@TheRedHavoc]

​@@MrNicoJac ​I'm not absolving the West of being hypocritical or not living up to its values. In fact, I think it's a good thing when the West is criticized on the basis of its own values, because the values are good, and the criticism hits home, sparking reflection and reform in Western countries. That is how many reforms in the West began, from abolitionism to women's rights to the expansion of the franchise, and so on. And no, it never goes perfectly and there's still work to be done, but these things happened, in large part because of the Western capacity for self criticism and self reflection. What I am against is a moral double standard where the West is judged as moral actor(s) and other countries are analyzed with a purely interest-focused lens. The trouble with Russia is a great example of this. In the lead up to the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we had a situation were many commentators criticizing the West for "forcing" Russia to escalate so dramatically by "not respecting its security concerns". Those who acknowledged that Russia threatening to invade another country was bad nevertheless laid responsibility for the crisis at the West's feet. In these analyses, Russia has no moral agency for its own behavior, which is absurd and leads to bad policy recommendations. The answer to Western hypocrisy cannot be reverse hypocrisy, it has to be a fair and universal standard for everyone. You can't have a sustainable international system without such a standard, in my view.

[@MrNicoJac]

@@TheRedHavoc Great comment, and I (almost?) _fully_ agree! I'd merely note (/reiterate?) that there _can_ be a double standard when it comes to morals: If the West claims to have certain values, it should be judged against those. But other countries can say they only care about interests and not values. And then it would be weird to judge them based on values they do not exhort, right? I mean, we can't criticize Saudi Arabia _for being hypocritical_ when it comes to gay rights - they do exactly what they say/claim to believe... (we can criticize them for having the 'wrong' values; but they'd just say the same to us, sadly) Your example, of Russian safety concerns, is totally* valid, though. Russia clearly was the country picking fights with its former subjects (Georgia), and had nothing to fear from Ukraine or NATO. Anyone saying that, however, was either an idiot or not arguing in good faith. So I'd call that propaganda, and obviously propaganda cannot be treated equal to what you described as the West self-reflecting and improving over time. So that's why that argument never struck me emotionally - it was too obviously a trolling position. (*the only safety concerns that Ukraine/NATO posed to Russia were to Putin and his regime, but not the country or state itself - and it was not a military threat but one where, if the people saw democracy pop up in their neighboring countries _and_ saw them develop their economies, then Putin could fear a popular uprising. And, more importantly, any Western politician/civilian who holds Western values, _should_ be in support of _universal_ human rights - and that is something that is undeniably expansionist, because it means we think our values should apply to the inhabitants of foreign countries too. So I can sorta understand why Putin felt threatened, too - but that doesn't make all the slaughter and torture right, not even remotely)

[@vendetta7639]

1:01:00 Turkey did supply GMLRS TRLG-230 (Oryx even covered it)

[@Cinn357]

Read the "the episode is delayed" message, two minutes later episode drops, perfect timing.

[@jsubb4680]

Babe wake up! New Perun video!

[@mimimimeow]

About the TF-X, it has one (1) design characteristics that make it stand out over the KF-21 and F-35, namely high altitude kinematics. It seems to be focused on the F-15C-type role, sitting high up fast and striking anything below. There is a considerable market on this capability, hence the development of FCAS/SCAF, GCAP and Mitsubishi F-X. So I don't really think it is intended to compete with F-35 and KF-21, but rather it tries to undersell itself below the upcoming "A2A-focused platforms".

[@wifi_soldier5076]

A Turkish food restaurant opened up in my town a few nonths ago and it is by far some of the best food I have eaten 😊 🇳🇿🇹🇷

[@thegratepotato1281]

Probably Kurdish, probably.

[@samedaltun]

Turkish or Kurdish, it doesn't matter. Turkish citizen.

[@Galadonin]

In some way, Turkish diplomacy reminds me of "cold war" France : A reluctant yet capable ally in NATO with a real desire to stay independent, even if the motives are different (Just my opinion lol).

[@murphy7801]

Yeah but less genocide from the french

[@murphy7801]

Also thinking about it France is quite easy to negotiate with even then. Because when they commit to something they don't back out of deals.

[@bobfry5267]

@@murphy7801 I wouldn't bet on that. Mass murder of Algerians was a speciality for a century. And then there was Indo China.

[@bcluett1697]

@@murphy7801 Vietnam might disagree. Maybe throw in some African opinions while you are at it.

[@saltuk1763]

France is not that different now.

[@wesjenkins5160]

Another gem. So we can assume that Turkey's foreign policy is somewhat Byzantine?

[@Morgernstein]

"People wonder what "side" they are on." I think saying they are on Turkeys side would be the simplest answer.

[@b1laxson]

TV Show M*A*S*H had an episode where the Greece and Turkey soldiers were having to be kept apart as they fought each on the base.

[@clarkrhoades1640]

Your analysis of Turkle's international positions was very sophisticated. It was a delightful segment!

[@janeharrison835]

If that Turkish warbird does ever make it to production, it's going to be known colloquially as the TAI-fighter, isn't it?

[@yilmaz101]

I for one will definitely call it that. The TAI-fighter, hopefully with a TEI-engine.

[@TheKurtkapan34]

That's a good one. But Khan is basically a lifelong meme potential for KHAAAAAAAAN. Didn't love the name when I first heard it, but it grew on me. Also basically means King of kings so, good meaning as well.

[@almazchati4178]

It will make to production. It will be a multinational effort like F35, and more advanced. It is unthinkable that Erdoğan will let it slip. Turkiye has top-notch electronic warfare capabilities.

[@afd1040]

It is going to be named Kaan but who knows maybe it would TAI Kaan or something similar to that

[@jackthorton10]

Oh the memes that will be made

[@john_in_phoenix]

Another outstanding job of presenting a balanced picture of Turkey and their positions and capabilities in the context of Ukraine. We in the west may not like it, but it is hard to fault Turkey for being on the side of Turkey. I will also point out that Turkey importing Russian oil at a substantial discount, refining it and then selling it on at a substantial profit is in line with the intent of western sanctions on Russian oil. Basically don't jack up the price of oil for the world due to completely stopping the export of Russian oil, but rather substantially reduce the profit Russia banks for selling it.

[@timthetiny7538]

The US needs to remove them from the alliance sooner than later

[@john_in_phoenix]

@@timthetiny7538 Russia is not in an alliance with the US. If you mean Turkey, then I strongly disagree with you. Watch the video and figure out why.

[@timthetiny7538]

@@john_in_phoenix I dont need to watch the video. Turkey likes to play both sides and sells us out to Russia constantly. They aren't an ally of use, they're a parasite

[@DJToMyHits]

Your video on the Black Sea has aged INCREDIBLY quickly into very fine wine.

[@daiakunin]

This is an excellent deep dive into the famous quote "nations don't have friends, only interests".

[@First-Last_name]

Said nations without friends

[@strategystuff5080]

its just really good diplomacy from the Turkish perspective, by not choosing a hardline, they have maximum leverage from both parties.

[@skp8748]

They're pretty hardline they advocate for Ukraine and Georgia into NATO for years... they're fighting Russian allies in Syria, Armenia and Libya. Hosting Ukrainian refugees refusing to recognise crimea as Russia, calling the special military operation an invasion of a sovereign nation, supply the Ukrainian army for free and releasing Azov commanders defying a deal with Putin.

[@georgedevries3992]

@@skp8748 Well, you've fallen for Erdie's tricks. What a tool.

[@georgedevries3992]

Because that worked SO well for them after WW2. Bloody opportunistic pricks.

[@skp8748]

@@georgedevries3992 you've fallen eu propaganda

[@Pietyali]

I for one worship at the shrine of the all powerful Perun, whose powerpoints create the reality we live in /s But for real, your work is so good and comprehensive it is borderline precognizant since you look deeply into trends and forcesl

[@adenkyramud5005]

Praised be our lord and savior PowerPoint man

[@jackthorton10]

Shall we recommend him to the all mighty Emperor long shall he reign, for a feast in his honor brother?

[@OdyTypeR]

Don't stress over the schedule of future updates, we know you have a day job, even if you refuse to talk about it 😉. I will certainly miss my new Sunday morning routine, but with your stuff it's always been quality over quantity, and we all appreciate that.

[@Krullio]

In summary, Türkiye is everything Putin dreams of Russia being. Jokes aside, very happy you did this country in its own video. I recently discovered Türkiye in a course of security studies and what a theoretical gem it is in that perspective. It absolutely changed my world view on the country, it’s NATO partnership and geographical position. rightly so given the geopolitical developments of the past year and those in the Syrian civil War.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

I hope they get out of their current economic slump both because they deserve it and so they can stop supporting Russia.

[@blechtic]

@@Self-replicating_whatnot Deserve it? They seem to be voluntarily running towards hyperinflation because their dictator-to-be is willingly bog-ignorant on economy. Once the shit really hits the fan, he's not going to be making a sharp turn towards liberal democracy, he'll start turning the screws.

[@oghuzkhan5117]

Echoes of the Kunuri Battle (Korea) "The surprise of the Korean battles were not the Chinese but the Turks. It is impossible at this moment to find a word to describe the heroism which the Turks have shown in the battles." - Abent Post "The Turks have shown in Kunuri a heroism worthy of their glorious history. The Turks have gained the admiration of the whole world through their glorious fighting in the battles." - Figaro "The Turks who have been known throughout history by their courage and decency, have proved that they have kept these characteristics, in the war which the United Nations undertook in Korea." - Burner - U.S. Congressman "I now understand that the vote I gave in favor of assistance to Turkey was the most fitting vote I gave in my life. Courage, bravery and heroism are the greatest virtues which will sooner or later conquer. In this matter, I know no nation superior to the Turks." - Rose - U.S. Senator "While the Turks were for a long time fighting against the enemy and dying, the British and Americans were withdrawing. The Turks, who were out of ammunition, affixed their bayonets and attacked the enemy and there ensued a terrible hand to hand combat. The Turks succeeded in withdrawing by continuous combat and by carrying their injured comrades on their backs. They paraded at Pyongyang with their heads held high." - G.G. Martin - British Lieutenant General "We owe the escape of thousands of United Nations troops out of a certain encirclement to the heroism of the Turkish soldiers. The Turkish soldiers in Korea have added a new and unforgettable page of honor to the customs and legends of heroism of the Turkish nation." - Emanuel Shinwell - U.K. Minister of Defense "The heroic soldiers of a heroic nation, you have saved the Eighth Army and the IX'th Army Crops from encirclement and the 2nd Division from destruction. I came here today to thank you on behalf of the United Nations Army." - General Walton H. Walker, Commander, Eighth Army "The Turks are the hero of heroes. There is no impossibility for the Turkish Brigade." - General Douglas MacArthur - United Nations Forces Commander in Chief

[@rossfinman9148]

Sunday morning sermon at the church of Perun. Would love to see a follow up on the Korean video, but on North Korea

[@xerxeskingofking]

i cant believe you talked about turkish public donations, talked about a warship funded by public donations, and COMPLETLY skipped over the ottoman warships Reşadiye and Sultan Osman I, AKA HMS Erin and HMS Agincourt!

[@rommulasforthewin]

right!!😂

[@MrNicoJac]

Can't you??? I _totally_ can That detour is called WW1, and that's a rabbit hole that goes a WHOLE LOT of one-hour videos deep :')

[@moturist1]

This was hugely informative! You have answered the majority of my questions regarding Turkish politics around the war in Ukraine. Thank you very much for that!

[@AussieBattleCat]

Thanks mate, As an aussie living in turkey I very much appricated this video

[@MrNicoJac]

That's a pretty long haul! How did you end up there, if I may ask? :)

[@AussieBattleCat]

@@MrNicoJac Love :)

[@AussieBattleCat]

@@MrNicoJac and to contiune what we started in 1914 :P

[@MrNicoJac]

@@AussieBattleCat Really? Was your spouse _so_ afraid of Aussie wildlife that you two decided to settle in Turkey rather than Australia? (I mean, drop bears are bad, but at least you can keep an eye out for them - Australia doesn't have earthquakes, and those are way harder to spot)

[@AussieBattleCat]

@@MrNicoJac No it's more to do with long wait times for visas from the australian government, but we will be moving back in 2 months since we have our partner visa sorted.

[@jtsinspain]

Another clearly structured presentation, well-done! Now, to the point of where Turkey goes from here (and everyone feel free to shoot my ideas down): 1) A diminished Russian influence in the Black Sea as well as the collapse of a strongly authoritarian Russian Federation is very much in Erdogan's interest. 2) Turkey has a vested interested in preventing the Black (and Azov) seas being perceived as under Russian control. 3) Turkey is probably the only Nato member that will support a Ukrainian adherence to this defensive organisation EVEN IF the war is still ongoing. 4) Turkey operates, as Perun rightly says, in a compartmentalized fashion - but also very much Quid Pro Quo, and can be justified in believing that when Ukraine is in the EU Turkey will be able to count on unconditional support from that country for Turkish accession to the EU. 5) The whole of the EU and NATO members are divided into two groups: those that said "we know who the Russians are and the potential costs of their foreign policies and so you should beware!" on the one hand; on the other are those who accused the first group of being paranoic warmongers and prophets of doom, while enabling the further enrichment of the Russian elites and facilitating the continuity of the "population stay out of politics" system. Just one question remains: Might we be in the verge of seeing the creation of an economic commonwealth of Black Sea nations?

[@slartybarfastb3648]

Great analysis of Turkey's national interests and the strategic decisions made because of those interests. It's not an easy topic to cover in one hour, but you did it very well.

[@suzannewman979]

As always a very thorough and enlightening experience on this very timely topic of Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine. I especially like the seemingly accepted fact that Turkey will not accept a Ukrainian loss in this aggression and bloody war perpetrated on the freedom loving Ukrainians. Much appreciated Perun.

[@Stealth86651]

You could probably make a killing doing consulting work teaching government/military people how to make powerpoints and presentations. Hell, you could teach a ton in the privatized sectors as well. I've seen some rough shit in my days, watching this is like going from a film students first project to 2001: A Space Odyssey or something.

[@JB-pu8ik]

You do him an injustice. Surely this is at least spaceballs levels of mastery.

[@atroposz]

Masterclass: Putting the Fun Back in Powerpoint with Perun

[@andrewyoung8550]

Didn’t he say in an early video that he is a defense procurement analyst for a Australian defense company?

[@pansepot1490]

He obviously already works in the sector. No way an amateur has this level of deep knowledge on a topic like military procurement. Come to think of it, very rarely excellent channels that specialized in a a particular field are run by non professionals. Just the other day I discovered that what I genuinely thought was a smart teenager making astrophysics videos out of his bedroom actually works at the Euclid Space Telescope program. Great informative content must come from experts, no way around it.

[@Nestoras_Zogopoulos]

​@@pansepot1490drop the channel name man!

[@20chocsaday]

Thank you for telling a lot more about Turkey than most of us know.

[@j.s.c.4355]

Turkey versus NATO makes me think of the meme of the brothers that fight all the time and call each other names, but will not allow an outsider to do the same.

[@meesterskullbaby]

I have received mockery for my excitement for regular Perun videos and I don’t give a fuck. This shit is rich, meaty context and I love it.

[@Billy01113]

A great video as always, it gave me a lot of insight into Turkish basic politikal thinking processes and made me understand some of their moves much better.

[@yb7875]

Turkey doesnt know if its eastern or western, if its islamic or secular, if its pacifist or interventionist, if its in the middle east or europe, or if its on the side of Ukraine or Russia. Me and a friend (Turkish) came up with a name for this in school - Turkey syndrome, being in the middle of everything.

[@user-lj1lz9pp4e]

Afghanistan before soviet invasion

[@yb7875]

@@user-lj1lz9pp4e Thats because afghanistan before the soviet invasion modelled itself after Turkey. Their king looked to Ataturk for inspiration and tried to implement reforms similar to his, because of how Ataturk took a backwards muslim country and modernized it.

[@dankeykang868]

Non-binary thinking is too hard for so many people

[@rommulasforthewin]

nah we are overwhelming nationalists in one way or another but you are right about turkey syndrome being a thing it just doesn't make sense to anyone that isn't turkish even the other side that hates you will agree on things which would never fly in other countries like I was at a protest with communists MHP nationalists and islamists in taksim square and they all agreed they didn't like Israel it was funny as. Put any of these groups in a room and they'd be at each others throats.

[@yb7875]

@@rommulasforthewin If we are overwhelming nationalists, how come %80 of the youth wants to leave Turkey? Turkey syndrome.

[@AlRoderick]

Funding military expenditures by soliciting funds from wealthy individuals has a long and ancient tradition. They were doing it in classical Greece and Rome, and I don't actually know as much about the antecedents of the Ottomans at the same time but it would not shock me if it basically worked the same way.

[@rommulasforthewin]

just prior to the first world war the ottoman government drummed up funds from citizens to buy two dreadnoughts and on the eve of war Winston Churchill as first lord of the admiralty impounded both ships that where paid for by turkish citizen funding. the Germans gifted us two destroyers and we joined the Germans what would have happened if those ships hadn't been stolen maybe Gallipoli would never have happened?

[@kenpace8089]

Perun, great content, as always! Love your metaphors, on point!

[@fishbaitx]

Thank you for taking the time to give us a quality video again this week perun 😊

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated looking forward to excellent insights as always from you.

[@paulturner2975]

Again an excellent outline explaining the strategic and diplomatic balance between Turkey (Turkia) and it's many immediate and Black Sea neighbours. A big topic handled with empathy to the issues and presented with authority and astute observations. Pault

[@matthewbrightman3398]

Awesome as usual! So greatly appreciated.

[@geoffdewitt6845]

This was helpful and informative, as always!

[@helmutthat8331]

Regarding "crowdfunding", the US federal government's War Bond drives could be considered to be fundraising/crowdfunding. It wasn't a donation from US citizens per se, since the idea was to get your money back, but it was US citizens deliberately buying bonds at below market interest rates that were a bad investment for the buyer. The War bonds were bought at 75 cents in the 1940's and redeemed for a dollar after they matured in 10 years. The problem was that the inflation rates from 1946 - 1951 cumulatively meant that 75 cents worth of goods from 1945 now cost 135 cents in the 1950's when the war bonds matured, resulting in a net loss for the buyers.

[@zanzastrow5600]

Thank you for providing context on a complicated topic. As always. Your releases have turned my least favorite day of the week into one I anticipate with genuine pleasure.

[@nikolaybelorusov5522]

Thanks for your indepth videos, very educational!!

[@paddington1670]

Yay new Perun video! thank you!

[@PJSproductions97]

I think of all the videos where you discuss one Country's politics, this is the one that helped me understand a new position the most. Very helpful!

[@barry5643]

I've been trying to warm up to the task of attempting to plug some holes in my understanding of current Turkiye-Russia dynamics. This got me much further than I expected with far less searching, sidetracking and time spent than I expected. Thank you.

[@LeWebslinger]

Perun you are doing the whole world a great service with these essays. Grazie mille

[@mashdown3]

Again, amazing quality, research and depth of understanding presented in an organized way and with terms folks can clearly understand. Thank you Perun!