Weaponization of migrants: the case of Turkey

The subject of the study is the weaponization of migration, specifically focusing on Turkey's policy towards the European Union between 2015 and 2020. The research examines how migration flows were used as a tool for political pressure in the international relations between the EU and Turkey. The author delves into institutional and humanitarian mechanisms of migration management, as well as the role of information campaigns and media discourses in shaping public perception of the crisis. Particular attention is given to the 2016 EU-Turkey agreement and the 2020 Greek-Turkish border crisis, analyzing their impact on the decisions of the European Commission and the European Council regarding quota allocation and external border protection. In a comparative context, the study mentions similar practices of migration pressure by Belarus in 2021 and Morocco towards Spain, highlighting the systemic nature of this phenomenon. The research employs systematic, comparative, and case-oriented approaches, alongside methods of content and event analysis. Empirical data includes statistics from Eurostat, UNHCR, Frontex, official statements, parliamentary reports, and materials from international media. The analysis involves stages such as data collection, thematic coding, interpretation, and comparison of EU political reactions. The scientific novelty of the work lies in identifying the mechanism of how migration flows influence the political decision-making process in the EU. It demonstrates that Ankara's threats to open borders correlated with the acceleration of negotiations on financial support for Turkey and the strengthening of Frontex's mandate. Unlike existing studies focusing on the humanitarian component of the crisis, this research considers migration as a controlled instrument of hybrid pressure. The practical significance of the study is in developing recommendations for European and international institutions to enhance independent migration response mechanisms, reduce dependence on third countries, and improve strategic communication in crisis situations.