Is Washington pushing Turkey and Europe toward each other?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants new allies amid his spat with US President Donald Trump, but the West remains his best bet.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking new allies to offset Ankara’s worsening ties with Washington, which have come to a breaking point over Turkey’s continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Erdogan’s remarks show that his heart is set on Russia and China.
Ironic as it may seem, though, Turkey’s crisis with the United States is rekindling its ties with Europe, even though these ties had hit rock bottom not so long ago.
Recent European statements of support for Turkey and Erdogan’s phone conversations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron last week have raised hopes that Turkey-EU ties may be revived.
This seemingly ironic situation is not new, though. Turkey’s relationships with Europe and the United States have traditionally been characterized by a “seesaw effect.” When ties with one side were strained, relations with the other side showed signs of improvement, regardless of what differences there may be.
