In what can only be described as an impressive feat of diplomacy—or perhaps an audacious display of double standards—President Recep Tayyip Erdogan managed to inaugurate a mosque in Albania one day and sign military agreements with Serbia the next. If nothing else, it proves that Erdogan’s version of "brotherhood" with Albanians comes with a healthy dose of ambiguity.
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| Erdogan and Vucic in Belgrade while signing agreements of a military and economic nature, October 11, 2024 |
Just yesterday, Erdogan was in Tirana, alongside his "brothers," celebrating the grand opening of the Namazgja Mosque, emphasizing the deep-rooted bond between Albanians and Turks. He even went so far as to call Albanians "brothers" of the Turkish people, a sentiment that was certainly well-received by the pious attendees. After all, what better way to solidify a relationship than with the peaceful foundation of prayer?
But fast forward 24 hours, and the narrative takes a sharp turn. Today, in Belgrade, Erdogan found a new set of "brothers"—the Serbs. You know, the same Serbs whose military history with Albanians is, to put it lightly, less than brotherly. But no matter, in the interest of economic and military cooperation, the past can be overlooked. Erdogan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have inked 11 agreements, including those aimed at boosting Serbia's defense industry. Yes, that's right, Albania’s new "big brother" is also arming the country that Kosovo, made up of over 90% Albanians, still sees as its greatest threat.
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| Erdogan, Vucic and Dodik at a table eating in Belgrade, October 11, 2024 |
In Erdogan’s own words, this collaboration is about "peace." What better way to preserve peace than by co-developing military drones, specifically the much-talked-about Bayraktar UAVs? The same drones, mind you, that are used by both Albania and Kosovo. Apparently, there was no mention of whether these peace-preserving drones would also be produced in Serbia. How reassuring for Kosovo’s Albanians, who will now sleep soundly knowing that their beloved Bayraktars could soon have a ‘Made in Serbia’ label.
President Vučić, of course, wasted no time bringing up Kosovo during the meeting with his Turkish "brother," calling Erdogan the "most powerful player in the Balkans." A bold statement, especially when said to someone who just yesterday was declaring his eternal brotherhood with the Albanians.
The irony here is almost too rich. On the one hand, Erdogan is a champion of Albanian interests in the region, making grand gestures and declarations of unity. On the other, he’s enabling the military capabilities of Serbia, the country that many Albanians—especially those in Kosovo—consider a threat.
It seems we are entering a new "golden age" of relationships between Turkey and Serbia, one forged with economic agreements and the promise of military advancement. And in the grand chessboard of Balkan geopolitics, Erdogan is playing both sides with remarkable finesse, all while keeping a straight face and talking about "peace" and "stability."
So, what does this mean for Albania, Kosovo, and the broader region? It’s simple: Erdogan’s version of "brotherhood" comes with a twist—just don’t be surprised if he’s also extending that same brotherhood to the other side of the battlefield.