Realpolitik reigns: the US-Turkey relationship theiranproject/blog/2013/06/11/realpolitik-reigns-the-us-turkey-relationship/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=realpolitik-reigns-the-us-turkey-relationship As Turkey enters its twelfth day of protests, the US continues to urge both sides to exercise restraint, but has refrained from serious criticism of the Turkish government. The protests began over a plan to destroy a park in Istanbul, and have been met by a harsh government response. According to the BBC, three have been killed and thousands injured in the demonstrations, which have now spread to a number of cities around the country including the capital, Ankara. The lukewarm American response to the violence is not uncharacteristic for the US-Turkey relationship. The ties between the two countries have their roots in the aftermath of the Second World War. It quickly became clear near the end of the war that a confrontation with the Soviet Union, an ally of convenience against Nazi Germany, was moving to maximize its post-war power position. This included reaching for control of the Turkish Straits, which would ensure Soviet access to the Mediterranean from its bases on the Black Sea. Turkey and the United States, alarmed by the apparently aggressive intentions of the Soviets, sought a relationship. President Harry Truman pledged support for Turkey and Greece in what has come to be known as the first step in the American Cold War strategy of “containment.” Turkey was granted admission to NATO in 1952 and throughout the Cold War played an important role as the guardian of NATO’s southern flank. Following the end of the Cold War, Washington and Ankara maintained close ties, attempting to expand their relationship past its military foundation. The relationship endured some discontent in the early 2000s, as Turkey sought to develop a more independent foreign policy. This involved forming closer ties with Russia and Iran, which made the US uncomfortable, and culminated in Turkey’s refusal to allow the US to stage out of Turkish bases during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Turkey and the US have found considerable common ground on recent events in the Middle East, however. As a secular democracy, Turkey has been quite supportive of the Arab Spring and many in the US see Turkey as a “model” for other states in the region to emulate as they emerge from the shadow of decades of authoritarian rule. Despite rhetoric on both sides about shared liberal values, the relationship remains one founded on mutual interests. While generally considered to be a secular democracy, the country has suffered from some less-than-democratic policy decisions in its history. For its part, the US has been quite forgiving, for the sake of maintaining the vital strategic partnership the two countries share. In particular, the role of the military in Turkish politics runs contrary to mainstream democratic ideals. Since the establishment of Turkey as a state following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the army has intervened four times to replace the government, often with the blessing of the United States. Given this history, it is no surprise that the US government has been quiet on the current situation in Turkey. The necessity of cooperating on Syria, terrorism, Afghanistan and other issues largely outweighs concern over the recent violence in the Obama administrations’ strategic calculus. While liberal values appear to be less of a concern to the United States, they will matter in Turkey’s on-going bid to join the European Union. The Turkish government has come under fire from EU officials over its crackdown on the protests around the country and concerns that current prime minister Erdogan is seeking to institutionalise the power of his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Erdogan is in his third and final term as prime minister, a new parliament will be elected in 2015. A number of hurdles still remain in Turkey’s accession process, including its lack of recognition of Cyprus and immigration issues. The US is supportive of Turkey’s efforts to join the EU and the reforms that such a process will entail, but security will continue to be Washington’s primary concern well into the future. By New Europe The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:05:57 +0000
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