NO country does favours without expecting something in return.
For example, if the Islamic Republic of Iran provides aid to build and staff a hospital in Nauru, the state public relations apparatus will give you a noble reason for doing so.
“To help raise the standard of healthcare for our friends in the Republic of Kiribati,” it’ll say.
“Off course,” the Republic of Nauru will say. “Take another look at your map.”
“Yes,” the Republic of Kiribati will says
“Sorry,” the Iranians respond, “we actually meant Nauru.”
This scenario would probably delight and concern the United States and its allies in equal measure.
Delight, because it would show just how poor Iran’s grasp of geography is and “God knows where that Shahab-5 long range missile will end up. Certainly not in Washington”.
Concern, because who wants Iranian influence in the Pacific, apart from Abu Sayaff, Jemaah Islamiyah and the odd despot or two.
But I stray, much like that rocket with its corrupted guidance system.
In this make-believe situation, there would be an ulterior motive for Iran’s sudden discovery of this fount of goodwill.
There always is, no matter which government you are talking about.
Which leads us to this question: What does Turkey stand to gain from courting the Pacific Islands?
I have never heard of Turkey taking an interest in the Pacific before until I spotted an article in the Turkish English language daily, The New Anatolian.
The story talks about a three-day meeting in Istanbul between Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum to “develop Turkey’s relations with countries in the South Pacific region and to strengthen co-operation at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.
“The Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, Fiji, Palau in Micronesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will be represented at the ministerial level and the others at the level of high representative.”
Surely Turkey isn’t seeking support from the Pacific for entry into the European Union. And it can’t have anything to do with issues in Cyprus.
That leaves us with one final possibility: That Turkey’s unexpected concern for the region is genuine and has nothing to do with its campaign for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2009-2010.
