Türkiye Relations

Reuters reported on May 30 that US President Joe Biden said that in a phone call on May 29, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Ankara's desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the US. In response, Mr. Biden said Washington wanted Ankara to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO. The exchange took place when President Biden called to congratulate President Erdogan on his re-election to a third five-year term after the election on May 28.

tit for tat?

The US government has repeatedly denied claims that the F-16 sale was delayed to gain Turkish approval for the NATO membership applications of Sweden and Finland, according to Reuters. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in January that the US side had made it clear that approval of the NATO application would be viewed positively by the US Congress.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden during the NATO summit in Spain on June 29, 2022

Türkiye has sought US approval for a $20 billion sale of F-16s and spare parts, but the deal has stalled amid congressional opposition to Ankara’s refusal to greenlight NATO expansion. A smaller $259 million sale of avionics software upgrades for Turkey’s F-16 fleet was approved by Congress days after Ankara approved Finland’s application to join NATO.

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, nearly three months after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine. Türkiye approved Finland’s NATO membership application in late March, but continues to oppose Sweden, saying Stockholm harbors members of groups Ankara considers terrorists.

Re-elected, Turkish President Erdogan calls for unity, anti-inflation

The possibility of Sweden joining NATO in mid-July when the alliance holds a summit in Lithuania is one of Washington's priorities. Therefore, observers believe that President Erdogan's first test of relations between Turkey and the West after his re-election will be at the upcoming NATO summit, where President Erdogan will be asked to lift Turkey's veto on Sweden's NATO membership, according to The Guardian.

Relationship in the next 5 years

While the U.S. and Europe are likely to seek Türkiye’s support on some issues, such as Sweden’s NATO membership, observers say the relationship will remain difficult in other areas, such as Turkey’s accession to the European Union. Talks on joining the EU have stalled as democracy in Turkey has eroded under President Erdogan, according to AP.

Under President Erdogan, Türkiye has increased its military presence in the Middle East and strengthened ties with Russia. However, he has been engaged in a diplomatic “balancing act” since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, opposing Western sanctions against Russia and sending drones to Kyiv, according to the Euronews television network.

Why doesn't Türkiye send S-400 missiles to Ukraine as the US wants?

Observers say President Erdogan does not want to completely break with the West, but rather wants to do things his own way, and the leader will continue to have a contentious relationship with the West. "Turkey is breaking away from the West and, although it is a NATO member in spirit, it is no longer part of NATO," said Arda Tunca, an independent economist in Turkey.

Meanwhile, expert Galip Dalay at the Chatham House research organization (UK) commented: "5 more years of President Erdogan means many geopolitical balancing acts between Russia and the West. Turkey and the West will cooperate wherever it suits Türkiye's interests and this will divide the bilateral relationship."

Mr. Putin had a phone call with Mr. Erdogan

TASS news agency yesterday quoted a Kremlin statement saying that during a phone call on May 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized "President Erdogan's great contribution to the development of Russian-Turkish relations in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner." The two leaders also noted that "the Turkish people's support for their leader opens up additional prospects for expanding practical bilateral cooperation in various areas."

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-he-tho-nhi-ky-phuong-tay-sap-toi-se-ra-sao-185230530123845386.htm