Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan both value each other's style, but politically the situation between the NATO partners USA and Turkey has been difficult for a long time.
On Wednesday, the US President and his Turkish counterpart meet in the White House, the list of controversial issues is long: Erdogan's war against the Kurds, Russian rockets on NATO territory in Turkey, imminent sanctions by the US and the supposedly putsch planner Fethullah Gülen in the US exile.
Just over a month ago, Turkish troops invaded northern Syria. Trump then threatened that he could "sanction" the Turkish economy through sanctions. In a letter that aroused ridicule, Trump personally wrote to Erdogan that he should make a deal with him: "Do not be a fool." And: "I'll call you later."
According to information from the White House, the conversation in Washington is once again about the situation in northern Syria, where Turkey is acting against the Kurdish militia YPG. In agreement with Washington Erdogan's army had attacked the Kurds on 9 October, after the then closely allied with the YPG US troops had withdrawn from the border area.
Erdogan: solve problems, "despite the gloomy climate"
In fact, the Syrian Kurds had accused the USA of their partial withdrawal and were abandoned by their allies. Disputed was whether Washington gave the green light to Turkey for the expulsion of the YPG from northern Syria, but the withdrawal of US soldiers was interpreted as such. Turkey regards the Kurdish militia as a terrorist organization.
Washington stressed Tuesday that the YPG continues to be an ally of US forces in the fight against the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS). There are no intentions to end the cooperation with the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Murat Cetinmuhurdar / REUTERS
Recep Tayyip Erdogan shortly before the start in Ankara in the direction of Washington
Another issue: The Turkish acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system, an unprecedented step for a NATO member state. The US fears that Russia will be able to obtain data on the capabilities of the US fighter jet F-35 through the sensitive radar of the weapons system. Ankara was a partner in the construction of the fighter jet and wanted to buy several of the aircraft. Because of the S-400, the US has excluded Turkey from the F-35 program.
Erdogan has also put sensitive issues on the agenda. He also wants to talk to Trump about US-based preacher Fethullah Gülen. Turkey blames Gülen for the coup attempt in July 2016 and demands his extradition. Gülen rejects any responsibility for the coup.
Erdogan said on Tuesday in Ankara before his departure that he looked positively forward to the conversation with Trump, even if the relationship was tense. "Despite the gloomy climate in our relationships, we are in agreement with President Trump when it comes to solving problems and expanding our relationships." And Trump? The US President has repeatedly praised Erdogan's broad-legged style of government. The Turk is a "friend" and a "hellish good head of state."
Affection of the "Strongman Presidents"
At the end of last month, the US House of Representatives had passed tough sanctions on Turkey by an overwhelming majority. The Senate, which still has to approve the resolution, will only deal with it after Erdogan's visit. Democratic Senator Chris van Hollen accused Trump of rewarding Erdogan with an invitation to the White House to attack the YPG on Tuesday.
According to Soner Cagaptay, responsible for the Turkey Institute's program for Near East Policy, there is great reluctance at the working level between governments, which is only masked by the affinity between the two strongman presidents. "The Erdogan-Trump part of the USA-Turkey relationship is really the only component that works today." In the government agencies, however, the trust had eroded and both sides were very upset one another.
