Turkey's Diplomacy: Strategies For A Strong Defense

Turkey is a powerful force in the board game Diplomacy, with a strong defensive position and the greatest staying power of any country on the board. However, its defensive position can also be a weakness, as it can be a challenge to move out from this position. Turkey's neighbours, Russia, Italy and Austria, pose a significant threat, and an alliance between any two of these countries can be detrimental to Turkey's game. Therefore, Turkey's strategy must focus on maintaining good relationships with these countries, particularly Russia, and preventing alliances from forming against it. Turkey's opening moves are critical, with players recommending a push through Bulgaria, followed by a move to Greece, Serbia or Romania.

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Turkey's natural defensive strength

Turkey has obvious natural defensive strength—a fact that even beginners can point out. Turkey has the greatest staying power of any country on the board. Turkey can stalemate her enemies with six well-placed fleets and armies.

However, Turkey's natural defensive strength is also the cause of its offensive weakness. Its defensive position is not as powerful as it initially appears. Russia has a fighting chance of wresting the Black Sea from Turkey in the early years, and an alliance between Italy and Austria can land an Italian army in Smyrna by Autumn 1902. Either of these cases could mean curtains for Turkey.

Because of its defensive position, Turkey is nicknamed "The Sick Man of Europe" for many. However, using this "weakness", and given some good fighting, Turkey can be the best man in Europe. Turkey is hard to eliminate. It takes a determined attack by two of its three neighbors (with the third not rushing to its aid) plus a lot of time to break Turkish resistance and take its three dots.

Turkey's best shot at two builds in 1901 is a push through Bulgaria, followed by either a move to Greece or Serbia, or Rumania with Austrian support. Turkey rarely gets two builds—most Austrians move to Albania and Serbia in Spring 1901, and thus can pick up both supply centers, and are wary of giving support to Turkey, Austria's natural enemy. This opening is safe and allows Turkey to work with or against any of its neighbors.

The importance of the Black Sea

The Black Sea is of utmost importance to Turkey, both historically and in the present day. Located at the southeastern extremity of Europe, the Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west. The sea is supplied by major rivers, including the Danube, Dnieper, and Dniester, and its drainage basin includes parts of 24 countries in Europe.

From a historical perspective, the Black Sea has been crucial to the Ottoman Empire, with Turkey playing a protective role in the region. The country's command of the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, as encapsulated in the Montreux Convention, grants it a key role in international security. However, in the present day, Turkey's regional foreign policy seems driven more by the perception of internal and external threats than by a grand strategy. The Syrian conflict, for example, has absorbed much of Ankara's energy, leading to a hesitant approach in the Black Sea region.

The Black Sea is also important from a geopolitical standpoint. Turkey's ambitions to lead multilateral economic and security-building efforts after the Cold War were not fully realized, and initiatives such as the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP) stalled or were abandoned. Turkey's projects faced challenges as many littoral states prioritized their accession to NATO and the European Union. Additionally, the power imbalance with Russia has constrained Turkey's autonomy in the region.

The Black Sea is a crucial gateway for Moscow, and NATO gained access to it through Bulgaria and Romania in 2004, reducing Russia's regional position. Turkey has maintained a neutral stance, trying not to compete with Russia in the Black Sea while also being a member of NATO. This delicate balance is exemplified by Turkey's decision not to sanction Russia for the annexation of Crimea in 2014, despite being a vocal supporter of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

In summary, the Black Sea is of significant importance to Turkey due to its historical role, its geopolitical implications, and the delicate balance of power with Russia. Turkey's foreign policy in the region has been hesitant, and the country faces the challenge of navigating its national security interests while also upholding its commitments as a NATO ally.

How to use Italy as a short-term ally

Turkey's strategic position in the corner of the board gives it a strong defensive position, but also limits its offensive capabilities. Its neighbours can launch a determined attack and, with the help of a third party, break Turkish resistance. To prevent this, Turkey must focus on its immediate surroundings and work with or against its neighbours.

Italy is a key player in Turkey's defensive strategy. Italy is the country most likely to be eliminated early in the game, but it can also be a powerful ally. A Turkish-Italian alliance can be challenging due to both countries' desire to be Russia's ally against the other. However, in the short term, Turkey can use Italy as an ally by offering support in naval battles. This would require Turkey to refrain from building fleets, allowing Italy to take the lead in naval battles.

Additionally, Turkey can exploit Italy's desire to be Russia's ally by forming a temporary alliance with Italy against a common enemy, such as Austria. This strategy requires careful diplomacy and trust between the two countries. Turkey should also be cautious of Italy's potential to switch alliances easily, as it can move towards Iberia or Germany instead.

Furthermore, Italy has played a significant role in Turkish history, with the two countries sharing a complex diplomatic relationship. Italy's presence in Turkey includes an embassy in Ankara and consulates in several other cities. Historically, Italy occupied Constantinople and parts of southwestern Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence but never directly fought the Turkish Army. Italy also returned the Dodecanese Islands to the Ottoman Empire in the Treaty of Ouchy in 1912, only to later occupy them again along with parts of southwestern Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence.

In conclusion, Turkey can utilise Italy as a short-term ally by offering support in naval battles, forming temporary alliances against common enemies, and leveraging historical ties. However, Turkey should also be cautious of Italy's potential to switch alliances and its desire to be allied with Russia.

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Why Russia is Turkey's most dangerous enemy

Turkey has historically been regarded as a hard country to eliminate due to its strong defensive position, both from land and sea. However, Russia is considered Turkey's most dangerous enemy.

Russia and Turkey have a long history of conflict, dating back to the 16th century when the Ottoman Empire began supporting smaller Turkic and Islamic vassal states in modern-day Russia. The two empires clashed over control of the Black Sea basin, with the Russo-Turkish War (1768-1774) resulting in a treaty that granted Russia passage to the Black Sea and the ability to intervene in the Ottoman Empire on behalf of Eastern Orthodox Christians. By the 19th century, Russia was aiding Christian minorities in their revolt against Ottoman rule.

In modern times, Turkey and Russia continue to have opposing views on foreign policy issues such as the Syrian Civil War, the Kosovo conflict, and the Armenian and Bosnian genocides. The Russian fighter jet shootdown in 2015 led to a period of tense relations, with Russia imposing restrictions on Turkish residents, businesses, and imports. Despite this, Turkey has pursued a foreign policy independent of its NATO allies, including purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defence system and seeking to upgrade economic, diplomatic, and even military ties with Russia.

In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, Turkey has attempted to broker a peaceful solution, given its close partnership with both countries. Turkey's decision to designate the Russian invasion as a "war" under the 1936 Montreux Convention allowed it to close the Bosporus Strait to warships, including Russia's fleet. However, Turkey has not sanctioned Russia or closed its airspace to Russian aircraft, indicating a strategically defensible but morally questionable middle ground.

Therefore, while Turkey has sought to balance its relations with Russia and its NATO allies, historical conflicts, ongoing foreign policy differences, and Russia's ability to complicate Turkey's military and diplomatic efforts in Syria highlight Russia as Turkey's most dangerous enemy.

Strategies for getting past Sicily

The board game Diplomacy is a complex and strategic affair, and playing as Turkey presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Here are some strategies to get past Sicily and secure a strong position:

Firstly, understand the geographical constraints and advantages of playing as Turkey. While Turkey's position in the corner of the board provides a solid defensive position, it also limits mobility. Constantinople, for instance, can bottleneck armies and fleets. However, Armenia and Syria are at the "back" of the map, reducing the risk of flanking and encirclement. This allows for a strong defensive formation, turning Anatolia into a "turtle."

Secondly, focus on the stalemate lines. These are the imaginary but impenetrable lines of defence that cannot be forced. For example, if France holds F TYS and F Tun, it becomes difficult for Turkey to gain access to the Western Mediterranean Sea. Understanding these stalemate lines is crucial to formulating a strategy that can get past Sicily and into the Western Mediterranean.

Thirdly, be mindful of potential alliances and betrayals. Italy and Austria often form an alliance, known as the "Lepanto," which targets Turkey. This involves Italy moving F Nap-ION, A Rom-Apu, and A Ven H in Spring 1901, followed by specific moves in Fall 1901 and 1902 to attack Turkey. To counter this, Turkey can build F(Smy) in A01 as a defence. Additionally, maintaining good relations with Russia can be beneficial, as they can aid in defending against the Lepanto strategy.

Another strategy is to focus on negotiating for Greece or Romania and then waiting for Austria to become engaged with other enemies. This creates an opportunity for Turkey to sweep in and take their stars. This approach leverages Turkey's ability to slowly build power and exploit openings created by other nations' conflicts.

Finally, remember that Turkey can be a powerful nation in the game. It can rapidly grow in strength, and its central position allows it to interact with multiple nations. This provides options for forming alliances and expanding influence. Turkey's resilience and capacity for gradual progress are key advantages that can be leveraged for a successful game.

In summary, playing as Turkey in Diplomacy requires a strategic mindset, an understanding of stalemate lines, and the ability to form and break alliances. By leveraging defensive strengths, negotiating skillfully, and exploiting geographical advantages, players can develop strategies to get past Sicily and secure a strong position in the game.

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