ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has broken down his anti-Western and anti-American rhetoric in an apparent attempt to restore the rocky relationship with his NATO allies, but so far he has been met by the silence of US President Joe Biden.
Nearly two months after his presidency, Biden Erdogan has not yet called, which some in Turkey see as a worrying sign. By contrast, former President Donald Trump and Erdogan spoke just days after the 2016 election.
The ties between Ankara and Washington – which once considered each other strategic partners – have gradually deteriorated over the past few years due to differences over Syria, Turkey’s cooperation with Russia and more recently over the Turkish naval interventions in the eastern Mediterranean, which US officials described as destabilizing.
Despite tensions, many in the Erdogan government were hoping for another four years of the Trump-led government, which had a personal relationship with Erdogan and gave him no lectures on Turkey’s human rights record.
Biden upset Turkish officials after an interview with the New York Times in which he spoke about supporting Turkey’s opposition to ‘autocrat’ Erdogan.
In public statements, Turkish officials downplayed the White House’s lack of phone calls and noted that talks were taking place at other levels, but a senior Turkish government official told The Associated Press that Erdogan’s office was “not excited” about it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week that there were many world leaders Biden had not yet spoken to and that she was sure he would call Erdogan ‘at some point’. ‘
Due to a spate of assertive foreign policy, anti-Western rhetoric and increasing authoritarianism, Turkey now wants to attract foreign investment to save its problems in economy. Erdogan has reached out to the US, European nations and other former allies in an effort to restore troubled relations and end his international isolation.
Biden, who spoke on the restoration of international alliances and traditional ties as well as the strengthening of NATO, would have an interest in rebuilding the ties and in trying to snatch Turkey from Russia’s sphere of influence.
But analysts say it will be very difficult to repair the relationship, given the range of issues the two countries do not see face to face, including Turkey’s decision to buy the advanced Russian S-400 air defense system, which Washington says holds a threat to NATO and the US F-35 fighter jet program. Washington kicked Turkey out of the F-35 production program and last year imposed sanctions on Turkish defense officials, as well as a ban on military export licenses.
Turkey claims that the Russian system, which cost the country $ 2.5 billion, is not a threat to the NATO alliance and has repeatedly called for dialogue to resolve the issue. Washington maintains that the sanctions cannot be lifted as long as the Russian system remains on Turkish soil.
Antony Blinken described Turkey during a Senate hearing before his confirmation as US Secretary of State as a ‘so-called strategic partner’ and this as ‘unacceptable’ for Turkey ‘in line with one of our biggest strategic rivals in Russia’ named.
Merve Tahiroglu of the Washington-based Middle East Democracy Project said it would be difficult to pull Erdogan back on the S-400 because he made such a big deal about the purchase and what it did would mean for Turkey’s geopolitical independence. “
US military support for Syrian Kurdish fighters to fight the Islamic State group is another point of contention. Turkey claims it is inextricably linked to a decade-long Kurdish uprising, and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said ties could not improve unless Washington suspended its cooperation with the Syrian Kurdish group.
In 2019, Biden accused Trump of betraying US allies, following the latter’s decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria, paving the way for a Turkish military offensive against the Syrian Kurdish group.
The Biden government is likely to put pressure on Turkey over its energy dispute with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, which has led to a tense disagreement between two NATO members. Turkey has since halted its search for energy reserves in controversial waters, while Erdogan has intensified his fiery rhetoric.
Gonul Tol, director of the Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies, said Turkey could not grant concessions in the eastern Mediterranean because it was considered a national issue by a large part of Turkish society. ‘
The Biden government is expected to place more emphasis on democracy and human rights than Trump did. During a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Blinken stressed the “importance of democratic institutions, including government and respect for human rights” for Turkey, according to a US reading of the conversation.
Last week, Erdogan undertook a series of reforms to improve human rights, but analysts said it was unlikely to make a big impact or that released people like activist Osman Kavala would be released from prison. government protests in 2013 as well as a failed coup attempt in 2016.
“In order for a real recovery to take place, Biden’s government must see more of a democratization process … which can come in the form of major judicial reforms or through the release of some of the most controversial political figures,” Tahiroglu said. .
Turkey is also trying to extradite US cleric Fethullah Gulen, who accuses Ankara of orchestrating a failed 2016 military coup. U.S. officials say Ankara has not been able to submit documents enabling his extradition. Turkey accuses Washington of offering him shelter.
A trial against Turkish state bank Halkbank is also accused of helping Iran evade $ 20 billion in US sanctions.
“If the court rules Halkbank, it’s going to be devastating for the Turkish economy, and I do not see how you can recover after that,” Tol said.