Erdogan's 'Poker Game' Uses Sweden As Chip: A Subscriber+Exclusive Interview

Erdogan’s ‘Poker Game’ Uses Sweden As Chip: A Subscriber+Exclusive Interview

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – JULY 10: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during their meeting ahead of the NATO Summit on July 11, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The summit is bringing together NATO members and partner countries heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance’s future, with Sweden’s application for membership and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as major topics on the summit agenda. (Photo by Filip Singer – Pool/Getty Images)

Posted: July 10th, 2023

Exclusive Subscriber+Member Interview — In a flurry of negotiations on the eve of the NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed himself as the dealmaker that he is, said former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Cipher Brief Expert James Jeffrey.

“This guy does deals,” he said of Erdogan’s decision to no longer block Sweden’s admission into the alliance, a stunning reversal from an earlier statement that tied Sweden’s membership to the condition of Ankara’s acceptance into the European Union.

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Erdogan’s ‘Poker Game’ Uses Sweden As Chip: A Subscriber+Exclusive Interview

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