ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slashed his anti-Western and anti-US rhetoric in an apparent effort to restore a rocky relationship with his NATO allies, but has so far been greeted by US President Joe’s silence Biden.
Almost two months after the presidency, Biden has not yet called Erdogan, which some in Turkey consider a worrying sign. Instead, former President Donald Trump and Erdogan spoke just days after the 2016 election.
Relations between Ankara and Washington – once considered strategic partners – have steadily deteriorated in recent years due to differences with Syria, Turkey’s cooperation with Russia and, more recently, Turkish naval interventions in the eastern Mediterranean, which US officials say they described them as destabilizing.
Despite the tensions, many in the Erdogan government hoped for another four years in the Trump administration, which had a personal relationship with Erdogan and did not give him any lectures on Turkey’s human rights history.
Biden angered Turkish officials after an interview with the New York Times in which he spoke in support of Turkey’s opposition to “autocrat” Erdogan.
In public statements, Turkish officials downplayed the lack of a phone call from the White House, noting that talks are taking place at other levels, but a senior Turkish government official told The Associated Press that Erdogan’s office is “not happy” about the deal. with these. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said last week that there are many world leaders with whom Biden has not yet spoken and that she is sure she will call Erdogan “at some point.”
Left with few friends because of a wave of assertive foreign policy, anti-Western rhetoric and growing authoritarianism, Turkey is now trying to attract foreign investment to save its troubled economy. Erdogan has contacted the United States, European nations and other former allies in an attempt to correlate troubled relations and end his international isolation.
Biden, who spoke about restoring international alliances and traditional ties, as well as strengthening NATO, would have an interest in rebuilding ties and trying to move Turkey away from Russia’s sphere of influence.
But analysts say it will be very difficult to reset the relationship, given the range of problems the two countries do not see eye to eye with, including Turkey’s decision to buy Russia’s advanced S-400 anti-aircraft system, which Washington says is a threat. for NATO and the American F-35 fighter program. Washington kicked Turkey out of the F-35 production program and last year imposed sanctions on senior Turkish defense industry officials as well as bans 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 insists sanctions cannot be lifted as long as the Russian system remains on Turkish soil.
During a Senate hearing before his confirmation as US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken described Turkey as a “so-called strategic partner” and considered it “unacceptable” for Turkey to be “in agreement with one of its biggest competitors.” our strategic plans in Russia ”.
Merve Tahiroglu of the Washington Project on Democratic Middle East Democracy said it would be difficult for Erdogan to give back the S-400 “because he made such a big deal on the acquisition and what that would mean for independence.” geopolitics of Turkey ”.
US military support for Syrian Kurdish fighters to fight the Islamic State group is another point of contention. Turkey says they have been inextricably linked to a Kurdish insurgency for decades, and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said ties could not improve unless Washington ceased co-operation with the Syrian Kurdish group.
In 2019, Biden accused Trump of betraying the US allies, following the latter’s decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria, which paved the way for a Turkish military offensive against the Syrian Kurdish group.
The Biden administration is likely to put pressure on Turkey in its energy dispute with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, leading to a tense confrontation between two NATO members. Since then, Turkey has stopped searching for energy reserves in disputed waters, while Erdogan has reduced his fire rhetoric.
Gon Tol, director of the Center for Turkish Studies at the Middle East Institute, said Turkey could not grant concessions in the eastern Mediterranean “because it is considered a national cause by a large segment of Turkish society.”
The Biden administration is expected to place more emphasis on democracy and human rights than Trump. During a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Blinken stressed “the importance of democratic institutions, inclusive governance and respect for human rights” for Turkey, according to a US reading of the conversation.
Last week, Erdogan promised a series of reforms to improve human rights, but analysts said it was unlikely to have a huge impact or lead to the release from prison of high-ranking figures such as activist Osman Kavala, who is accused. links to government protests in 2013, as well as a failed coup attempt in 2016.
“For a real reset to happen, the Biden administration needs to see more of a democratization process … that can come in the form of major judicial reforms or the release of some of the most controversial political figures,” Tahiroglu said.
Turkey is also demanding the extradition of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup in 2016. US officials say Ankara has been unable to provide documents to extradite him. Turkey accuses Washington of providing shelter.
It also threatens to disrupt ties and a lawsuit against the Turkish state-owned bank, Halkbank, accused of helping Iran evade US $ 20 billion in sanctions.
“If the court convicts Halkbank, it will be devastating for the Turkish economy and I don’t see how you can have a reset after that,” Tol said.