Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yavuz Selim Kıran, Rector of Altınbaş University and Presidency’s Security and Foreign Policy Council Member Prof. Çağrı Erhan and CNN Turk’s General Manager Bora Bayraktar were among the speakers of the panel entitled “Turkey-US Relations: Same Origin, New Vision” organized by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications at the US Congress. The panel was moderated by Brenda Shaffer, Director of the Centre for Eurasian, Russian and Eastern Europe Studies, Georgetown University.
Steve Chabot, a republican member of the House of Representatives, also attended the event and delivered a short speech about the future of Turkish-American relations.
Underlining that the alliance between the two countries proved itself despite many tests, Kıran noted Turkish-American relations had not always been easy, but at the end of the day, a common ground was found around common interests.
"S-400 decision does not mean a strategic change of course"
Kıran drew attention to the most recent problem about bilateral relations and commented as follows about the S-400 air defence systems:
"Turkey’s decision to acquire S-400 system was not an option, but a necessity. Besides, S-400 system was not the first, but the last choice of Turkey. We have had unproductive discussions with the USA for over ten years (about PATRIOTs), but the sales were blocked. Our S-400 decision does not mean a strategic change of course. Turkey has never sought an alternative to NATO. Our NATO membership lies at the heart of our defence plans and security policy."
Kıran stressed that they strongly opposed the discussion of S-400 matter within the framework of "Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)".
"Turkey and the US have never turned their backs on each other. They have never given way to pessimism, nor will they do so today," said Kıran and also added: "As clearly indicated by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we have more common grounds than differences."
Kıran told: "We are pleased to observe the constructive dialogue between our presidents as two visionary leaders. Both are fully aware of the value and vitality of Turkish-American relations.”
Kıran highlighted that US’ support to YPG/PKK in Syria was by no means acceptable and said: "The US should stop supporting YPG/PKK altogether."
Kıran noted another problem between Turkish-American relations: it is the fact that Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) ringleader Fethullah Gülen still lives in the USA. Kıran told: "It is not so hard to understand the disappointment Turkey and Turkish people have while FETO members can live comfortably in an allied country. Our rightful and legitimate expectation is the extradition of this so-called FETO leader and terrorists to Turkey.”
Turkey’s Importance in the Global Power Transformation
Erhan elaborated on the history of Turkey-US relations and underlined the importance of two countries for one another.
Pointing to the occasional ups and downs in the history of Turkish-American relations, Erhan said these ups and downs did not sever the strategic ties between Ankara and Washington, and the countries put their relations back on track within the framework of mutual respect, negotiation and common strategic interests.
Noting that a process of global power transformation was ahead, Erhan said the following:
"I would like to ask my American friends: Do you want this power transformation to happen? Do you want America’s global power to change hands? Or do you want the 500-year-old Western hegemony to be replaced by a non-Western hegemony? If not, we need to sort out our problems and rebuild mutual respect as soon as possible."
"US Needs Turkey"
Erhan stated that the US competed with China and Russia in particular and shifted its powers to the Asia-Pacific region, and Turkey was considerably needed in the Middle East particularly by the US.
Touching upon Turkey’s humanitarian aid activities as well as its contribution to regional security, Erhan said Turkey was leading the world in humanitarian aid and hosted almost 6 million refugees, 3.5 of whom were Syrians.
"It would be a great loss for the US"
CNN Turk’s General Manager Bayraktar said Turkey and US still had similar thoughts on many strategic issues despite several significant divergences.
Although Turkey and Russia are assumed to be on the same page on all issues, Turkey’s position differs from Russia on a good many issues, Bayraktar said. Under the current circumstances, it is a necessity for Turkey to cooperate with Russia particularly on Syria, he added.
Also criticizing the US’ preferences in the Middle East, Bayraktar said: “The US should question its alliance choices. YPG/PKK cannot be an alternative to Turkey. I don’t think it is wise to work with YPG/PKK since they do not represent the Syrian Kurds.”
Bayraktar said that the US needed Turkey in the region, and continued: “If relations deteriorate further, it would be a great loss not just for Turkey but also for the US."
