Türkiye and Trump: Challenging phase in attempt to improve relations Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he hopes to hold face-to-face meetings with elected US President Donald Trump, as phone conversations are insufficient for the development of relations. He made this statement in a conversation with journalists following his visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

"Developing relations between Türkiye and the US in the new period cannot be ensured through telephone diplomacy. I hope we will meet Mr. Trump at international forums or hold bilateral talks to better define how we will move forward. But for now, we need to see how Trump's cabinet will shape up. His government officials and my ministers will hold meetings to get to know each other better. We want new processes to begin between Türkiye and the US. And, undoubtedly, there are always opportunities for us. We want to take advantage of them and make steps that are beneficial for both countries," Erdoğan was quoted by Anadolu Agency.

Indeed, recent events suggest that US-Türkiye relations are now poised for potential improvement. Spiritually, President Trump seems closer to understanding the vision of a just world that Turkish leader Erdoğan advocates. Furthermore, with the death of Fethullah Gülen, Ankara no longer faces additional irritants in its path toward establishing normal relations with Washington. Can we hope that a more stable future is in sight for Southern Europe and the Greater Middle East if mutual understanding improves between the Presidents of Türkiye and the US?

Caliber.Az sought the perspectives of renowned experts on the region for their insights on this matter.

Serhiy Danilov, Deputy Director of the Kyiv Center for Middle Eastern Studies, believes that the key characteristic of Trump's presidency will be the unpredictability of his administration's policies.

"Different power centres around President Trump will lobby for their own interests and approaches. There is much talk now about the new administration's policy being based on a transactional approach. However, a simplistic view of profit will create conditions for constant competition among those seeking favours and make it difficult to implement a predictable, consistent policy," the researcher noted.

According to him, several Middle Eastern countries, particularly Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, welcomed the news of the Republican candidate's victory with optimism and hope.

Political scientist and Professor at Ankara University, Toghrul Ismayil, noted that Türkiye has a rather peculiar relationship with the United States.

"Why? Because until recently, Washington pursued a policy that affected Türkiye's national interests. First and foremost, this concerns the fight against terrorism. Although the US recognizes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, they also claim that its branches, such as the YPG (the Syrian branch of the PKK) and others, cooperate with them. Recently, following Trump's election, statements have emerged in Washington suggesting that these issues need to be revisited. If the Americans take steps in this direction, we will see certain positive changes," the professor speculated.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the current Biden administration is very pro-Israel and supports the policies of Tel Aviv.

"And this is also one of the main issues in US-Türkiye foreign relations today. There is serious tension in the Middle East created by Israel's actions against the Palestinians. There are many civilian casualties, and of course, this causes outrage and frustration within Turkish society. That’s why the official Ankara often speaks out about this," the expert explained.

Many in Türkiye are now hopeful that with Trump's arrival, something will change, bringing peace and calm to the region, he added.

"I think that in certain areas, yes, important agreements could be reached. But it is premature to talk about complete stabilization and full mutual understanding. Furthermore, let me remind you that during Trump’s previous term, very serious sanctions were imposed on Türkiye. I think we are facing a difficult phase in attempting to improve relations, and we must not forget that Türkiye is a US ally. The fewer problems Washington creates in its relations with Ankara, the less tension there will be in the region. This is the most important thing," Ismayil concluded.