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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in New York for the United States General Assembly at a time of high tension with Washington. But Erdogan's four-day visit could be the opportunity to re-establish links.
In a possible move to prepare the ground for a calming of tensions with Washington, a Turkish official was quoted Monday in the newspaper. the Wall Street newspaper, indicating that American pastor Andrew Brunson may soon be allowed to return home.
Brunson's trial in Turkey on terrorism charges was the trigger in August of US President Donald Trump imposing trade sanctions on Turkey. The sanctions were the catalyst for a collapse of the Turkish currency.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton said relations would be restored when Brunson was allowed to return home. Washington calls accusations against the baseless pastor. Erdogan insists that Brunson must be judged. Analysts suggest the stalemate could be broken at the pastor's next hearing on Oct. 12.
"I would expect it to be released, there is more and more expectation that it will happen," said Huseyin Bagci, professor of international relations at the University of California. Middle East Technical College of Ankara. "But we have to wait until October 12 if Pastor Brunson is released, and the problem is solved automatically."
"The rhetoric inflamed is much less than a few weeks ago between Ankara and Washington.The two sides, it seems to me, stand back, cooperation is urgent on both sides," he said.
Financial turmoil
Turkish-US easing Tensions and the removal of the threat of new sanctions are essential to end the financial crisis in Turkey.
But apparent communication errors between Ankara and Washington continue to hurt relations and threaten to exacerbate tensions. The latest diplomatic crisis erupted over apparent efforts to bring the two presidents together in New York.
The two presidents must not meet.
"US officials continue to say they will evaluate a request for a meeting with Trump if one comes from [Turkish] President Erdoğan or the Turkish side, "said Omer Celik, spokesman for the AKP party Erdogan.
"We do not like such a tone," he continued, "but I can tell you that if the US side, if President Trump wants to meet with our President, we will review their request and evaluate how to respond to it. . "
YPG supported by the United States
Erdogan recalled the potential for further escalation of bilateral tensions on Syria. In a speech in New York on Monday, the Turkish president warned that his armed forces were ready to launch an offensive against the Kurdish Syrian militia, YPG.
The YPG is a crucial ally in the war against the Islamic State and about 2,000 US troops are deployed with the militia where Erdogan threatens to attack.
Ankara calls the YPG terrorists, accusing the group of being linked to a Kurdish insurgency in Turkey.
"It is very worrying for us that the US administration is maintaining its partnership with the YPG and the PYD," Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Friday.
Analysts say Ankara is increasingly alarmed that Washington continues to support YPG after the defeat of ISIS, as part of efforts to limit Iran's influence. in Syria.
Last week, Trump said, "We are very close to the defeat of the Islamic State in Syria" and we will then determine what we will do. "
On Monday, Bolton said that "we will not leave as long as Iranian troops are outside Iran's borders and this includes Iranian proxies and militias".
Erdogan said that he was ready to go to Moscow to support him in his goal of eradicating the YPG in Syria. Turkish-Russian relations have improved significantly in the last 18 months, as the two countries strengthen their cooperation in Syria.
Russia
Turkey's relationship with Russia is another point of friction with Washington. Ankara faces new US sanctions if it proceeds with the planned purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system. NATO warns that the deployment of the system threatens to compromise its military hardware.
According to analysts, Erdogan's agreement reached this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid a Damascus offensive against the Syrian rebel enclave of Idlib sends a timely message to Washington on the importance of Turkey in the region.
"It is clear that Turkey is not a consumable country.Turkey is a kind of anchor for Western strategy in the Middle East," said Aydin Selcen, a former Turkish diplomat who served in Washington and in the region. "It is in the US interest to work with Turkey, however, the beginning of November is approaching, when the US-Iran sanctions will be in place and it will be the biggest test for relations between the US and Iran. Turkey and the United States. "
Washington should impose new trade and financial sanctions on Tehran for its nuclear program. Ankara has warned repeatedly that it will not support the new measures.
