Turkish FM calls for US to resolve sanctions issues, strengthen Türkiye-US ties

In a joint press conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Türkiye is looking to the new US administration to resolve problematic issues stemming from the previous leadership.

He noted that these issues include the continuation of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the full realization of cooperation between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

"We expect the new administration to resolve problematic issues particularly sanctions such as those under CAATSA, which were carried over from the previous administration, and to unlock the full cooperation potential between Türkiye and the US," Fidan said, highlighting that both countries should focus on advancing their strategic relationship irrespective of political changes.

The Turkish foreign minister acknowledged that while Ankara anticipates changes in US policy toward the region and Türkiye, the two nations maintain "state-to-state, strategic relations, and expectations are independent of the ruling party and ideology."

Key points of cooperation identified by Fidan included shared concerns over security, advancing economic relations, and collaborating on regional issues that concern Türkiye. He also addressed the ongoing challenges related to Türkiye’s security concerns, particularly in Syria and Iraq, and criticized the US for a lack of adequate sensitivity to these issues, which have created tensions and a trust deficit.

"At times, we can see politics in the US has held certain dimensions of Türkiye-US relations hostage. This is a reality of life. We will overcome this and continue on our path,” Fidan stated, reinforcing Türkiye's commitment to fostering better ties.

EU membership a strategic goal for Türkiye

Fidan also addressed Türkiye's ongoing efforts to join the European Union, emphasizing that EU membership remains a "strategic goal" for the country. He urged the EU to present a new vision for Türkiye’s membership that would strengthen the partnership.

He pointed out that some EU member states had previously used Türkiye’s accession process to serve domestic political agendas, resulting in "geostrategic losses" for both sides. Fidan stressed that recent global and regional developments underscore the importance of a cooperative approach between Türkiye and the EU.

"The latest developments in the global arena and the region have once again highlighted the importance of cooperation between Ankara and the EU, arguing that adopting an unbiased, realistic, and merit-based approach toward Türkiye would be in the best interest of both sides," he said.

In line with this, Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s calls for the swift implementation of decisions regarding the Türkiye-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue and the resumption of European Investment Bank operations in Türkiye.

He also highlighted the importance of removing all restrictive measures against Türkiye and urged the EU to resume high-level political and sectoral dialogue meetings as well as Association Council discussions.

Fidan called for immediate negotiations on updating the Customs Union and progress on the visa liberalization dialogue, emphasizing that Türkiye’s goals for cooperation with the EU extend to migration, where a fair distribution of responsibilities is necessary.

Regional and global challenges

During the press conference, Fidan and Kallas also discussed various regional developments. Fidan underscored that diplomacy remains the only solution to achieving a permanent and just peace in Ukraine. Regarding the Gaza conflict, he urged Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire, stressing the responsibility of the international community to prioritize humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in the region.

On Syria, Fidan emphasized that Türkiye will continue supporting efforts to help the war-torn country transform into a stable and prosperous state. He also reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to fighting terrorism in Syria, including the PKK and ISIS (Daesh), and expressed support for the management of refugee camps in northeastern Syria.

"The fight against terrorism in Syria, including the PKK and ISIS (Daesh), is now the responsibility of the new administration. We are ready to provide our support. We are also ready to support the new administration in the management of the camps in northeastern Syria. In this regard, our rightful expectation from all our partners is to end their relations with the PKK's affiliates in Syria," Fidan concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva