Turkish Experts Pessimistic on Prospects for Restoration of US-Turkish Relationship

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul begins a visit to the United States on July 22, seeking to reinvigorate a troubled strategic partnership. Political analysts in Turkey are pessimistic about the trip's prospects, some going so far as to pronounce the long-standing US-Turkish alliance as "dead." The souring of relations has prompted a vigorous debate in Turkey on the country's strategic priorities.

While in Washington, Gul is scheduled to meet with top Bush administration officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Gul's main aim is to restore the sense of friendship that was damaged by the Turkish parliament's decision not to make bases available to US troops on the eve of the Iraq invasion. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archives].

Relations were further strained by the July 4 "Suleimania Incident," in which Turkish officers were detained by the US military. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. A joint US-Turkish statement issued concerning the episode showed, in the words of Turkish Daily News Editor-in-Chief Ilnur Cevik: "the sides agreed to disagree" on responsibility for the arrests. The United States expressed regret for the incident, but has issued no apology.

Among the specific issues on the agenda during Gul's round of Washington visits is the possible deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq in the capacity of peacekeepers. Gul cautioned in a July 21 interview with the Anatolia news agency that no decision is expected in the near future. "The issue continues to be taken up in unofficial consultations right now.