This Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after his weekend visit to the site of the earthquake. On the spot, the head of American diplomacy had announced one hundred million dollars in additional aid. This is the first visit by the American Secretary of State to Turkey since taking office two years ago.
Among the topics on the agenda will be the conflict in Ukraine. As a reminder, Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Beijing was considering supplying “weapons” to Russia. Information denied by China on Monday morning. In this context of tension, the United States recognizes a constructive role for their Turkish ally: since the start of the conflict on February 24, 2022, Ankara – which maintains good relations with Kiev and Moscow – has offered its mediation to end it.
The inconvenient Turkish veto
The United States and Turkey, NATO allies, have sometimes strained relations, and their differences should be discussed during the meeting. As a priority, the Turkish blocking of membership in the Alliance of Sweden and Finland, whose candidacies have been pending since May. Thursday, the head of the organization Jens Stoltenberg had even considered, during a visit to Ankara, that it was “now time” to integrate these two countries of Northern Europe.
Among other geopolitical issues, the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets promised by President Joe Biden to Turkey. The sale is blocked by Congress in Washington due to concerns over Turkey’s human rights record and threats to Greece.
Another point of contention, the Kurdish militia of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) which Turkey considers “terrorist” and which was one of the main forces fighting the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) with the air support of the international coalition led by the United States.
After Turkey, Antony Blinken will complete his European tour in Athens where he will have a series of meetings on Monday evening and Tuesday with the authorities of this country, Turkey’s historic rival but also a partner within NATO.