Turkish Foreign Minister: Relations with the U.S. Have Entered a Very Sensitive Phase

Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, stated that his country's relations with the United States have entered a very sensitive phase and that they will either improve or completely deteriorate. These remarks came after National Security Advisor Donald Trump's visit to Turkey and ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip. According to Turkish media reports, the Foreign Minister said on February 12 in Istanbul, 'Relations with the United States are at a very sensitive point. We will either succeed in fixing this relationship or it will completely fall apart.' He added, 'We want [the U.S.] to take specific steps. The trust that has been damaged must be restored. The reason for the damage to trust is the United States.' Cavusoglu's comments followed a meeting between Herbert McMaster, Trump's National Security Advisor, and Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for the Turkish President. After that meeting, Reuters quoted an informed source in the Turkish presidency as saying, 'In this meeting, both sides emphasized the long-term strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States, and the sensitivities and priorities of both countries were discussed.' Rex Tillerson is also scheduled to meet with Turkish government officials on February 15 and 16. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained over the past years, evident during both Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's presidencies. U.S. judicial accusations against Turkish officials and banking executives, as well as ignoring Ankara's request for the extradition of Fethullah Gülen, have exacerbated tensions. The accusations against Turkish officials and banking executives are related to 'bypassing sanctions on Iran,' money laundering, and other issues. U.S. judicial officials have rejected Turkish officials' repeated claims that these cases are 'political,' stating that Ankara fundamentally lacks understanding of the judicial system in the U.S. and that cases are examined free from political influences. Meanwhile, Turkey's military operations against Syrian Kurdish militants, who are supported by the U.S.-led coalition, have introduced a new level of disagreement. In late January, Turkey launched operations in northern Syria targeting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as an extension of the PKK and a 'terrorist group.' The YPG forms the core of one of the most important militia groups in Syria: the Syrian Democratic Forces. These militants not only receive U.S. air, logistical, and advisory support but are also considered one of the coalition's main ground forces in the fight against the Islamic State. It is no secret that attacks on these militants have caused discontent in Washington. The Turkish Foreign Minister stated, 'Our demands from the United States are clear,' and 'We will evaluate all of them during Tillerson's visit [to Turkey].' The Turkish army experienced its deadliest day since the start of operations in northern Syria, with 11 soldiers killed in a single day, including two who died when an attack helicopter crashed over Afrin. Since the beginning of Turkey's operations, the U.S. has called for 'restraint' from Turkey and warned that this military operation will exacerbate the existing crisis. The White House spokesman stated on January 22, 'We want Turkey to exercise restraint in its military actions and approach, ensuring that its attacks will be geographically and temporally limited, that humanitarian aid will continue, and that civilian casualties will be avoided.' The UN Secretary-General has also recently warned about the increasing crisis in Syria, referring to Turkey's military operations and the conflicts between Israel and Iranian and Syrian forces. In this context, the UN Secretary-General called for an immediate reduction of tensions in Syria. The U.S. Secretary of State has entered Egypt at the beginning of his Middle Eastern trip, emphasizing the strategic relations between Turkey and the U.S. in discussions with McMaster and Turkish officials.