Ankara attack: what was the motive?
At least five people were killed and 22 others injured in an attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) in Ankara. Turkey has blamed the Kurdish PKK and responded with drone attacks on PKK positions in northern Iraq and northern Syria. Commentators discuss whether the timing of the attack was relevant in terms of the motives.
Competitors could be involved
In the search for motives, Star speculates:
“The attack, which occurred as President Erdoğan landed in Russia to attend the Brics summit, raises the question: 'Is someone trying to send a global message?' ... The possibility of Nato member Turkey joining the Brics states has been on the agenda for a long time. The fact that the attack was carried out on Turkey's most valuable facility, which is increasing its share in the international arms industry, draws attention to the competition in the global arms sector. The fact that the terrorist attack targeted TUSAŞ employees raises suspicions that powerful companies that don't want any competitors in this sector could be behind the attack.”
Turkey needs a détente
There were signs of a reconciliation with the Kurds, observes the Frankfurter Rundschau, hoping that this process will continue:
“It would be a mistake for Erdoğan to allow the attack to deter him from pursuing a course of détente – one that is not only based on short-term domestic political interests. From an economic perspective alone, it is madness to live in constant discord with a fifth of the population, locked in a brutal battle against the militarily organised arm and with at least latent oppression of civilians. An actual normalisation of the situation with the Kurds would indeed represent an historic opportunity – for the whole country.”