Where does referendum leave Turkey's ties with West?
Experts expect more trouble between Turkey and the United States and Europe in the coming period, but will it lead to a complete breakdown in ties?
Ankara’s ties with Europe appear set to remain tense for the foreseeable future, following negative European responses to the results of Turkey’s Constitutional referendum April 16.
Those results gave President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a weaker victory than he expected but still validated what Europeans fear will be his authoritarian rule.
Nevertheless, experts whom Al-Monitor spoke with say Turkey-EU ties will not be severed in the way some on both sides of the fence are calling for. They add that the “unhappy relationship” will continue to muddle along because of vital interests.
Turbulence in Turkey’s relationship with the United States is also expected to continue, despite the fact that President Donald Trump was the only Western leader to congratulate Erdogan on his referendum victory. But few expect a serious breakdown in these ties, too.
