USA sing Turkiye in its global competition with Russia and China

ArmInfo.  The United States is using Turkey in its global competition with Russia and China, according to political scientist Suren Sargsyan, director of the  Armenian Center for American Studies.

The expert noted that the question of why the United States views  developments in the South Caucasus through the lens of the Turkish  (Turkic) factor has been frequently discussed recently. Sargsyan is  confident that this is, in fact, a rather pragmatic calculation  within the context of American foreign policy and only part of the  overall picture.

"The United States views Turkey as a natural barrier, counterweight,  and competitor against Washington's main adversaries-Russia and  China, and, of course, Iran. That is, a strong Turkey-also integrated  into the ideological framework of the Turkic world-could create  problems for Moscow and Beijing, ranging from the South Caucasus and  the Black Sea region to Central Asia and the Middle East, where  Russia and China have vital interests," the political scientist  asserts. According to him, this is precisely why Washington is  creating obstacles, barriers, and additional challenges for its  competitors, which is consistent with the natural geopolitical  rivalry between world powers. Sargsyan stated that, according to this  logic, growing Turkish influence benefits Washington as long as it  creates problems for Beijing and Moscow. The expert added that  Washington is simultaneously creating new tools to keep Turkey under  its control while continuing to use traditional mechanisms.

Sargsyan emphasized that Washington is taking a similar approach  toward India, viewing New Delhi as a natural counterweight to China,  no matter how much this approach may cause discontent in India. 

"Therefore, as long as Turkey is used in the global competition with  Beijing and Moscow, its regional weight will grow, absorbing as much  as possible-be it Artsakh, Syria, corridors and routes, influence in  the Turkic states, etc. As for us, in the absence of checks and  balances in the South Caucasus, this natural process will continue  until equilibrium is restored. As the saying goes, 'a holy place  abhors a vacuum,'" the expert concluded.