Quoted from Twitter account of Alexandros Itimoudis
Many times, you have read or heard various analyses and interpretations of Turkey’s behavior from me.
I want to clarify something—both as a professional and, more importantly, because I do not belong to the category of trolls from the other side:
The Turks are an adversary who, despite their actions, should never be underestimated as a state.
The Turks are not like the classic peoples of the Middle East. On the contrary, they are a mixture that includes both Greek and Persian elements, at least at the elite level.
Halil İnalcık described the Ottomans in comparison to the Abbasids. For those unfamiliar, the Abbasids were a formally Muslim caliphate governed not by Arabs, like the Umayyads, but by Persians.
For better or worse, the Turks have incorporated the Persian administrative system, which is why many of their prominent figures are of Kurdish (Iranian) descent.
As a result, they have shown resilience and have been in opposition to Greece for approximately 1,000 years. That says a lot.
Many of their generals were of Greek origin, which is why they were able to create significant challenges both in Europe and the wider region.
Also, be aware that their elites are well-educated, so do not be misled by the large masses they govern.
I am not saying this to imply that Turkey does not have serious disadvantages in many aspects of what it does. Ho olwever, anyone with intelligence and judgment should recognize that the Turks have not occupied their position for such a long time by mere chance.
They are an adversary who deserves study—and, above all, should not be underestimated.
