Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 18, 2018

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaking to the press on Wednesday to announce snap elections. Photo: Presidential Palace via Reuters/Murat Cetinmuhurdar

Spengler, Asia Times: Turkey’s Erdogan hastens one-man rule after Syria victory

Surprise call for snap election comes as Ankara and Tehran consolidate positions in the region, all while America’s looming withdrawal leaves Israel with its back against the wall

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today surprised regional politics and financial markets by calling snap elections on June 24, consolidating one-man rule in what used to be the region’s lone democracy. The Turkish lira rose sharply on the news, from 5.08 lira per euro to less than 5 per euro at this writing. Money in the Middle East flows in the direction of political power, and Erdogan has emerged from the scramble in Syria as the co-hegemon of the region along with Iran, with Russia acting as arbiter between the two powers.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- April 18, 2018

Erdogan catches Turkey off guard by calling early elections -- Susan Fraser, AP

4 essential elements of a U.S. strategy on Syria -- Michael E. O’Hanlon, Brookings

Syria strike leaves murky, risky aftermath -- Peter Apps, Reuters

When it comes to atomic Arabian ambitions, UAE wins the race -- Jonathan Gorvett, Asia Times

Democrats Should Give Pompeo a Chance to Fix the Iran Deal -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg

Iran's Real Enemy in Syria -- Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic

Can Saudi Arabia Afford Its Megaprojects? -- Irina Slav, OilPrice.com

Top spook meets Kim in Pyongyang in diplomatic surge -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times

North Korea Talks: Here's What a Pragmatist Could Hope For -- Tyler Cowen, Bloomberg

Pompeo's Secret Visit Shows Trump Wants to Go Big on North Korea -- Uri Friedman, The Atlantic

How Shinzo Abe Can Help Trump Understand Kim -- Ronald Tiersky, RCW

India Moves Toward a Regional Reset -- Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu

Raul Castro leaves Cuba with new freedoms, deep problems -- Michael Weissenstein and Andrea Rodriguez, AP

New leader in Cuba: What's in store after the Castros? -- Chase Winter, DW

Cuba After the Castros -- Bloomberg editorial

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