BGN News
President of think tank ReThink Dr. Fevzi Bilgin expresses that recent policies of the ruling AK Party have all but diminished Turkey’s ties with the US.
“There is no friend of Turkey left in Washington.” Dr. Bilgin places the status of the relationship in simple terms.
The ReThink president believes that even though diplomatic ties have continued over a number of regional issues “there is an unwilling partnership based solely on benefits quite the contrary to the early era of the AK Party, corresponding to up to 2-3 years ago.”
Much of this has centered on the harsh rhetoric and increasing notoriety Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan evokes. The crackdown on dissent, muzzling of media, corruption charges and an overall Islamist ideology in foreign policy, coupled with antisemitism, has marred the past few years of Erdoğan’s reign.
Criticizing Erdoğan Bilgin reflects, “If the a US president president were to be caught appointing media bosses, infringing with the justice system, or orchestrating the persecution of businessmen through fines, this would have finished his political career.”
The evidence of Turkey’s declining image in Washington are well read in the editorials of US press as well as the contradicting diplomatic statements coming from both sides, according to Bilgin, “we are seeing some of the harshest condemnations on Turkey ever witnessed.”
The Re-Think president further notes, that differences over the what Turkey and the US had agreed “There have been many times where Turkey’s claims in the aftermath of discussions with the US that has had to be corrected by Washington.” Most notably was the claim from Turkey that US President Joe Biden had apologized for neglecting Turkey’s urge for the necessity to remove Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad.
On a related note Turkey’s rejection to play an active role in combating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which has continued its attacks on the Syrian-Kurdish town of Kobani right across Turkey’s border, has focused attention on Erdoğan’s more Islamist side of his policies.
“There is widely held belief that Turkey was helping radical elements in the Syrian conflict prior to ISIL.”
“The anti-Semitic rhetoric has made it difficult to appear next to Erdogan,” emphasized Bilgin who notes furthermore, “There are even those who request Turkey be expelled from NATO… The only way for the relations to heal is for Turkey to fight alongside the US.”
Potential republican victory won’t change perception of Turkey
In the aftermath of recent congressional elections which resulted in a resounding victory of the Republican’s has brought up the prospect that the Democrats will lose the upcoming 2016 elections.
Dr. Bilgin expresses that there is likely to be no positive developments between the Washington if the Republican Party wins the elections, as in the era of George W. Bush; “In fact it is just the opposite,” said the President of ReThink.
The changes within the Republican party, with the momentum of the Tea Party are all clear indicators. Most of the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement are conservatives; they view Erdogan as an ISIL supporter, and an Islamist who oppresses secularism.”
Armenian Genocide
Dr. Bilgin notes that one of the key outcomes may be the subject of the congressional vote held every year over whether the US should rule the death of 1.5 million Armenians during World War I should be called a genocide.
The changing view of Turkey may pave way for the Armenians to come out victorious.
“The platform for the Armenians to make their case is now fully open. It is highly possible that the Genocide will pass.”
“I believe that Turkey is preparing itself for the ruling. Turkey has to handle this internally.”