Maintaining U.S.-Turkey Relations

For decades, Turkey and the United States have maintained a strategic alliance. The United States views Turkey to some degree as a crucial link between East and West, a place where democracy, Islam, secularism and economic growth coexist. Recent events, however, have increased tension between the two countries.Cooperation between Turkey and the United States is particularly strong in the areas of energy, trade, investment, security, and anti-terrorism operations. The two countries share several common goals including peace and stability in the Middle East – particularly in Israel, Palestine and Iraq – and in seeing an Iran without nuclear weapons. Since the Truman Doctrine was announced in 1947, to prevent Turkey from becoming a Soviet satellite state, the United States has given or lent Turkey over $26.5 billion. Turkey has contributed troops and training to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and allows the transport of non-lethal items to Iraq through its airbases. Additionally, the election of Barack Obama was viewed in both countries as a positive step for improved relations.Yet, the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship is increasingly strained. This past spring, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution declaring that the deaths of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide; Turkey swiftly recalled its ambassador in protest. The Turkish government has become more and more outspoken in its criticism of Israel, another important U.S. ally. This criticism was amplified when an Israeli raid on a Turkish aid ship headed for the Gaza strip killed nine people in May. The United States angered Turkey when it insisted on tempering the language used in a UN Security Council statement on the incident. Turkey voted against a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran, insisting a tripartite deal it helped broker between Iran, Turkey, and Brazil negated the need for additional sanctions.Turkey is also becoming a more forceful and independent actor in the Middle East. It has taken a more active role, offering itself as a mediator and strengthening its economic ties and influence. Some are concerned that Turkey’s new foreign policy is shifting it away from the eastward. However, while Turkey is strengthening ties with its neighbors, Turkey remains an important ally of the United States and the West. As accession negotiations with the European Union, now in their fifth year, yield little progress, it is not surprising that Turkey would seek to improve its ties with other neighbors. Furthermore, while much remains to be done, the Erdoğan Administration has made some progress in improving relations with Armenia and increasing the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish population.Despite Turkey’s increasingly assertive stance, the United States and Turkey still share several common interests and goals. Both want to see a stable Iraq. Both assert the right of Israel to exist and want to be involved in an eventual peace settlement in Israel/Palestine. And both are working to ensure that Iran does not use or develop nuclear weapons.Maintaining this longstanding bilateral relationship is important to both countries. In order to move past current obstacles and strengthen the relationship, the United States should evaluate its approach to Turkey. As President Obama asserted during his visit to Turkey last year, this partnership should be based on common interests and mutual respect. Focusing on shared goals is necessary for further cooperation. Recognizing Turkey’s new role is essential. While this role changes the terms of the partnership, it will not necessarily endanger it.No alliance is perfect, but Turkey and the United States can work together on issues of common concern while maintaining their independence. It is undoubtedly in U.S. interests to maintain a good relationship with Ankara, particularly as it gains more influence in the Arab world. This alliance is and will continue to be of strategic importance. It should help, not hinder, U.S. goals in the Middle East.The photo in this article is being used under Creative Commons licensing. The original source can be found here.