Editor-in-Chief of Aydınlık Newspaper Tevfik Kadan summarized the important parts of Russian Federation Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s speech at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum regarding multipolarity and Turkiye.
Russian Federation Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s two-hour speech was significant, containing important messages for Türkiye and Europe between the lines.
Lavrov stated that “European countries, under pressure from Brussels, stopped buying gas from Russia, abandoned long-term contracts and bought gas and oil from the spot market. After the Strait of Hormuz crisis, spot market prices increased excessively, and countries that did not have long-term contracts with Russia suffered great losses.” These words were also directed at Türkiye, as its 25-year gas contract with Russia had expired; instead of renewing it, Türkiye had only used its right to extend the contract for one year. As a result, gas and oil purchased from the spot market became much more expensive.
Middle-Power States Should Take Responsibility
Lavrov also spoke about a multipolar world; ‘The formation of a multipolar world will be painful, and for this reason, some countries will need to change their habits and those countries who hide behind a strong EU, do not take responsibility must abandon their habit of believing in those that constantly deceive them.’ It’s not hard to notice that the country mentioned in these recipes is Türkiye.
‘With the US withdrawal from the region, new models have emerged, including attempts to form a new bloc comprising the EU, the UK, Türkiye and Ukraine’ stated Lavrov. The experienced diplomat also stated that for now they call themselves the “Coalition of the Willing” in the future this will likely become the “Coalition of the Destitute”
Lavrov’s messages highlight Türkiye’s efforts to fill the gap that will emerge in the region as the US focuses on the Western Hemisphere and China. Lavrov, however, took a broader perspective, stating that in the coming period, as we transition to a multipolar world, this will not be solely a pole at the national level, but rather alliances like the G20 and BRICS that can lead the world economically, militarily and politically and that will come to the forefront those alliances that are willing to assume responsibility rather than pursuing short-term interests.
‘When the multipolar world order takes shape, a challenge will arise when the time comes to transform this new world order into a new UN or to reform the UN. There will be a struggle over who will be considered a pole in the multipolar world order; will the UN system still exist, will there be permanent members, or will it take a different form? And when they acknowledge that there must be a group of countries that deserve not special rights but special responsibilities for the world’s future, in that case we will either expand the UN Security Council -we are ready for that- or new forms will be found. For example, geopolitical issues are largely discussed at the G20. The number of such formats will gradually increase. BRICS itself could become a pole, just like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Poles can be national or supranational. Everything will depend on the actual situation in the fields of economics, politics, policy, and security.’ Lavrov said.
Eurasia
“We have been arguing this for a long time that Eurasia is the richest continent in the world, the most populous continent, yet it lacks a continental-wide common security framework. In Africa, there is African Union. In Latin America, there is CELAC. But in Eurasia, there is none. Therefore, we support the Eurasian Security Conference held in Minsk. This will be the fourth edition this year. I have attended all of them. Representatives from Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia have attended. Their numbers will increase. Pragmatic politicians will recognize its value.”
As for Türkiye’s situation, it seems that Türkiye is seeking to form a bloc with the EU, the UK, and Ukraine.
In fact, Lavrov is telling Türkiye: “We understand you; you are trying to fill the gap that will be created when the US leaves the region, you are trying to dominate neighboring countries, you want to take on a greater regional role, but you are also delaying the formation of a multipolar world.” And the price of this is being paid by the whole world, by Venezuela, by Cuba, by all the resistant forces in Asia, by Africa, by Palestine, by Gaza, by Iran.
Therefore, it is necessary to review events from a broader perspective and consider the entire world as a whole.