US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in challenging discussions in Turkey on Monday, with the goal of addressing the concerns of one of Washington’s key yet complex allies regarding the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Blinken’s visit, his first since Israel initiated airstrikes in response to Hamas’ attack on October 7, occurred amid growing anger towards both Israel and Western nations in Turkey, evident on the streets and within President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s palace.
Prior to Blinken’s arrival on Sunday, Turkish authorities had to disperse hundreds of protesters who marched on an air base housing US forces in the country’s southeast, using tear gas and water cannons.
In a seeming diplomatic gesture, President Erdogan planned to travel across Turkey’s remote northeast on Monday, potentially signaling a cool reception for Washington’s top diplomat.
Blinken’s discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan were already expected to be challenging, even before Israel initiated a sustained bombing campaign and an expanding ground operation in its efforts to eliminate Hamas.
The Palestinian health ministry reported a grim death toll of at least 9,770 people during over four weeks of conflict in Gaza. This escalation began following a Hamas attack that claimed over 1,400 lives and led to the taking of 240 hostages, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Israel’s history.
The ongoing war has significant implications for Washington’s relationship with Turkey, a NATO member with a robust foreign policy and interests in various Middle Eastern conflicts.
The situation has prompted concerns in Washington, particularly the delayed ratification by Turkey’s parliament of Sweden’s bid to join the US-led 554147 defense organization. The United States has also been imposing sanctions on Turkish individuals and companies allegedly involved in aiding Russia in evading sanctions and acquiring goods for its Ukraine conflict.
Additionally, Ankara is frustrated by the delay in Congress’s approval of a deal, backed by US President Joe Biden, to upgrade Turkey’s air force with numerous US F-16 fighter jets.
Turkey also has longstanding reservations about US support for Kurdish forces in Syria, which played a key role in combating ISIS extremists but are viewed by Ankara as an offshoot of the banned PKK militants. In response, Turkey has increased airstrikes against armed Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq, as a reprisal for an October attack on the Turkish capital, which was attributed to the PKK and resulted in the deaths of two assailants.
Blinken’s visit followed a whirlwind tour of the Middle East, including an unannounced visit to the West Bank for discussions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas on Sunday. Amid calls from Arab nations for an immediate ceasefire, Blinken has voiced support for Israel’s position while assuring regional players that Washington’s focus is on alleviating humanitarian suffering.
President Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s duty, as a supporter of an independent Palestinian state, to promptly halt the violence. He also noted that Ankara is working behind the scenes with regional allies to facilitate a continuous flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Erdogan’s stance included cutting off communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and recalling Ankara’s ambassador to Israel as a sign of protest. He also criticized Western nations, accusing them of double standards and a loss of moral authority, stating that they are silently witnessing the killing of thousands of innocent children while expressing sorrow for civilians affected by the Ukraine-Russia conflict.