Arab Spring and Turkey-US Relations

Turkey's foreign relations was based on cold war era for decades. As a partner of NATO, Turkey was identified herself as eastern castle of western democracy against "Soviet threat". This approach was the main board of Turkish foreign diplomacy but The Soviet Union was collapsed in 1991.

After the Soviet collapse, Turkey tried to increase relations with some former Soviet states which are Turkic Republics. But Turkey's aim was failed and at the same time, Turkey's bid for Europe Union membership replaced the first rank on the Turkish foreign policy agenda. But EU membership process seemed to take longer time than Turkish officers wishes.

Crisis of the first of the March 2003

During the Iraq War, US wanted to carry out her troops and weapons from Turkey to the Iraq. Some interpreteures thought that its the opportunity to increase relations with US and show EU that Turkey has more alternative except EU membership.

But there were a great mass movement against Iraq War and Justice and Development Party (AKP) not argued with them succesfully. There were different views on the mass media and Turkey was failed to make her own way.

Leftist movement holded a mass meeting against Government Licence to US troops and weapons. More than a hunderd thousands of people were in Ankara to restrain Assembly from resolution for US troops and weapons. And The Assembly was rejected the US bid.

Transformation of Turkey and Foreign Relations

I have wrote before some opinions about transformation of Turkey with First and Second Republic metaphors:

Second Republic no longer a sovereign and secular state. Religion has a great realm in the social life and public sphere. Being independence condemns as anachronism or terrorism. 

Kemalist policy of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World" give way to new-Ottomanism and its expanding policies in the Middle East and Northern Africa especially. ("Second" Republic of Turkey: what is the distinction?)

This transition affected Turkish foreign diplomacy deeply. There were a discussion about Turkish foreign policy priorities. Some people were thought Turkey must create a new ally with Russia, China, Iran and India. But supporters of this idea were arrested with denunciation of military coup attempt. Ergenekon and Sledgehammer trials are for these peoples. They did not try to make a military coup but AKP government put them in jail to suppression whole opposition movement.

With the Ahmet Davutoğlu as a Minister of Foreign Relations "zero problems with neighbour" policy become the major priority of Turkish foreign diplomacy. This means that Turkey will fix up relations with former "alien" neighbours for example Greece, Syria and especially Middle Eastern countries.

Turkey become co-president of the Greater Middle East Project with US. Project was against islamist terror and make civilisations ally to protect world order. Everyone was know that US wants to attack Iran after Iraq War. And AKP should prepare muslim people. The main mission of the muslim AKP is to convince Middle Eastern people to transition of regian by US interests.

Obama Era: Attack chance for Turkey

I have to make a long quotation from my blog again:

First of all you have to remember that there is no real distinction between US and Turkey's Middle East politics. There are two major privileges of US politics on Middle East: firstly, oil resources have to be designed for US interests and the second, Israel's security have to be provided.

Middle East oil regime was changed with independence movements power in Meddle East with Nasser, Saddam, Gaddafi or other Baath Party like governments. Now, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, imperialists are continuing the transforming Middle East's political order because of change oil regime.

Requirements of Arab Spring riped with The Greater Middle East Project which is PM of Turkey Erdoğan is a co-president. With this strategic concept, US tried to change Middle Eastern regimes with external resources, especially bombs of "civilisation". You may remember G.W. Bush's "crusade" cry.

But there was a problem about foreign pressure: old Middle East regimes and most of the people think that they are under attack of western Cristians and they try to secure Israel. So the Project didn't work well for US interests.

When Obama won the elections, US has started the change strategy over Middle East and Islam. It was not about Obama's personal tendencies but about US interests in Middle East. Israel's aggressivenes was provoking riots and it makes hard to transform Middle East for US.

I think Israel-Lebanon War - 2006 was the break point for US strategy and its time to join MidEast politics for Turkey. Israel was defeated and Hizbullah should be disarmed. But Israel can not solve this problem. Turkey tried to be peace keeper for this but Mubareks Egypt and France did not let Turkey to play a decisive role.

First attempt was failured but the door was opened. After this moment, Turkey acknowledged that she could improve international role as a Muslim power which angaged imperialist interests. But to play a good role, she should be look as if "against" Israel and an insider for Middle Eastern peoples. Now, you should noticed difference between Bush's "crusade" and Obama's speech at Cairo University in 2009.  (Arab Spring" and Turkey: Erdoğan in Wonderland)

In that case, new-Ottomanism policy of AKP has an international opportunity for most of writers. AKP try to be a model for Egypt, Syria and other muslim Middle East and Northern Africa countries. "As a moderate muslim country" AKP said "I have acheived this transformation before the Arab Spring and i should be a model for these countries". Remember Turkey's Erdoğan's visit of Egypt a few months ago. A crowded muslim people were in airport and wellcomed Erdoğan with open arms.

So, we can say clearly that US interests and Turkey's interests are the same in the Middle East because new-Ottomanism is new-Americanism too. There is no conflict between them.

Syria Case and US-Turkey Ally

We can review Syria case to figure out Turkish-US interests too. Let's read from the Web site of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey:

Visits at the levels of President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs have continued to date since 2005. The most recent visits were made in October 2007. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan paid a visit to Syria on 6-7 October 2007 as part of his Middle East tour. Following the visit of Foreign Minister Babacan, President of Syria Assad visited Turkey on 16-19 October 2007. In the course of the visit, “Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between Turkey and Syria” was signed between the foreign ministers of the two countries. In the MoU are the mutual steps to be taken about the projects that are already under process and which have the potential to be realized under the titles of “Politics and Security”, “Economy” and “Energy and Water”. In this context, continuation of collaboration in the fight against terrorism, raising of mutual investments also as a part of the FTA, restoration of the present border gates and the opening of new ones, acceleration of the work about the Arab Natural Gas Pipeline Project, deepening of the cooperation between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and the Syrian Oil Company and progress in visits and opinion exchange in the field of water were agreed.     

Turkish-Syrian cooperation bears prominence in terms of establishment of regional peace and stability. In this context, Turkey holds consultations with Syria about the regional issues such as Iraq, Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon, and strives to make contributions for the solution of these problems in a collaborative manner with the international community.

Turkish-Syrian relations will continue to be developed in line with the main target of serving the common interests of the peoples of the two countries as well as contributing to the regional stability and security. ( Turkey's Political Relations with Syria )

But there had been a decisive turn the Turkish point of view about 8 months ago. Everyone must reply the question of "why". Because we can read this press release form the same page of Ministery of Foreign Affairs:

The social developments taking place in our neighbor Syria for the last couple of months have been followed very closely and patiently by Turkey along with the international community.

Turkey had been expecting and patiently waiting for the realization of the pledged reforms aiming to meet the just and legitimate aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people within the shortest time, as well as finding a solution to the issue through dialogue and peaceful methods.

Turkey, throughout this process, has mobilized all resources at its disposal in order to keep close contact with the Syrian administration, to address the needs of our Syrian brothers and to provide its constructive contributions to the reform process in all means.

However, we see with deep regret that violence and loss of lives have increasingly been the case. Along with the continuing operations in Homs, Deirezzor and Daraa, we have learned that many have been killed and wounded in the operations launched this morning against the residents of Hama who have refrained from violence from the outset and strived to engage in dialogue with the administration.  

Turkey had expected efforts to be exerted towards creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in the holy month of Ramadan, and is deeply disappointed and saddened by these developments on the eve of holy Ramadan as rest of the Islamic world.

These operations do not contribute to the restoration of order in Syria, but hamper the process of needed reforms. These kind of operations and violence do not achieve solutions, but rather create a deadlock. It is time for the Syrian administration to see this reality. 

The current developments raise suspicions regarding the intention and sincerity of the Syrian administration to resolve the issue through peaceful methods. 

Turkey reiterates its call upon the Syrian government to end the operations and resort to political methods, dialogue and peaceful initiatives in order to reach a solution. (No:178, 31 July 2011, Press Release Regarding the Recent Developments in Syria)

Someone should explain us the reason of this turn without US interests. The whole world knows that Mr. Davutoğlu carry out US decisions to Syria. You can see the harmony of the sanctions of imperialists with Turkey's too.

Turkey try to open the door of Iran with Syria and try to prepare muslim peole with a sectarian war. Pro-AKP newspapers write systematically that" Syria is a sunni country but a Alawite minority is ruling and use force to supress its own people.

AKP regime in Turkey supress its own Alawites but try to use Syrian sectarian conflict to open Iran door because mass media of Turkey write "Iran help Syrian Alawite minority to supress people". In that case, if there will be a Syrian War, Turkish public opinion will support AKP government as a part of "sectarian war".

So, the victory of AKP will mean that the victory of US and its imperialist allies. An the defeat of AKP will mean the stumble of US plans on Middle East.

Fidel