Washington: Now that Donald Trump's second term as US president is underway, shifts in foreign policy are beginning to affect Trkiye-US relations. The most significant change is Trump's pivot towards Russia, moving away from traditional European alliances.
According to Anadolu Agency, this realignment was highlighted during a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, coinciding with discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan's diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, including a symbolic gesture of holding an umbrella for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, further emphasizes the evolving dynamics.
Observers have noted Rubio's role as a stabilizing force against Trump's more extreme policies. However, Rubio himself has stated that Trump's decisions are paramount, with the State Department serving to enact his directives. This mirrors Trump's first term, where non-compliant figures like Rex Tillerson and John Bolton were replaced.
In Congress, anti-Trkiye rhetoric remains prevalent within the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Republican Senator Jim Risch leads a committee still critical of Trkiye, despite changes in its composition. Discussions often portray the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as US allies against ISIS, ignoring Trkiye's concerns over the SDF's links to the PKK.
A recent Senate hearing on Syria, featuring witnesses from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, perpetuated narratives against Trkiye. Assertions that Trkiye lacks the military capability to manage Daesh prisons were countered by the fact that Trkiye has NATO's second-largest military with a proven track record in anti-terror operations.
The hearing highlighted two main issues: unwavering US support for the SDF and persistent negative perceptions of Trkiye within Washington. This reflects a broader trend of reinforcing preconceived attitudes, with discussions seemingly aimed at local constituencies rather than genuine policy evaluation.
In conclusion, Trkiye faces a challenging landscape in US foreign policy circles. While Trump's rapport with Erdogan might offer a diplomatic avenue, Trkiye must actively counter misinformation and engage with US policymakers to address entrenched biases and misconceptions.