Turkey’s political manoeuvres do not usually come as a surprise, explains ELIAMEP Research Fellow Sotiris Serbos, in his interview with radio station 9.84. Serbos points out that the Turkish President is essentially addressing his own country and wants to show its citizens that he remains a strong leader who can force Europe and the West to carry their weight when it comes to the refugee crisis. Serbos describes how Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently facing increased pressure, since opinion polls show dissatisfaction with how the government is managing the refugee crisis, particularly when it comes to Syrian refugees.

You can listen to the interview in Greek (7.35-7.47, 4.3.2020) here.