Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has disappointed the United States and its allies by opposing Sweden and Finland’s bid to join NATO.
The position complicates the message of unity that the Biden administration wants to send to Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden’s and Finland’s offers to join the military alliance are historic – and a major defeat for Russia, which does not want to be added to the group. The fact that their decision to do so is a result of the Russian war is a point that has been highlighted by US officials.
But the diplomatic victory over Moscow has been overshadowed by Erdogan’s opposition over accusations that Scandinavian countries are hosting Kurdish terrorist groups.
NATO members must unanimously agree to accept members.
There are whispers that Ankara is looking for something – like American fighters – to give its blessing.
Erdogan will speak to Finnish officials on Saturday and left the door open for a change, telling reporters that “we will continue all these discussions so as not to interrupt diplomacy.”
Turkey is widely seen as a necessary but problematic partner.
Erdogan has been annoying Washington for years over its persecution of Russian weapons systems, military adventures in Syria, domestic political oppression and violence against US federal security and US protesters in the capital.
However, the administration and lawmakers acknowledge that Turkey provides a key bastion of NATO security in the Black Sea and has provided weapons to Ukraine, which has proved crucial in the fight against Russian forces.
And while the United States is frustrated, Erdogan’s government opposes joining sanctions against Russia, and they say that Ankara is a unique place to host any peace talks that may come between Kyiv and Moscow.
“Turkey is an important partner of NATO. We have many important military facilities in Turkey, and it is in our interest to have good relations with Turkey, “Senator Ben Cardin (MD), No. 2 Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told The Hill.
“They were a good partner for Ukraine. So I want to make sure that we are acting as a responsible partner, by making it clear that we do not want them to have relations with Russia, which could run counter to our security needs within NATO.
The administration is silent on what it can offer Turkey to gain its acceptance for Finland and Sweden.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday that the United States is ready to support in any way possible, but described the disagreement as such largely between Turkey, Finland and Sweden.
He and other officials expressed confidence that the alliance would agree to allow the Nordic countries to become members.
Sullivan also said there were no plans for President Biden and Erdogan to speak, but noted that Biden would be “happy to do so” if asked.
Biden hosted the leaders of Finland and Sweden at the White House on Thursday in strong support for the United States in joining the alliance. During an event in the Rose Garden, Finnish Prime Minister Sauli Niiniste appealed directly to Turkey.
“As NATO allies, we will commit to Turkey’s security, just as Turkey will commit to our security,” Niinistö said. “We take terrorism seriously. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and take an active part in the fight against it. We are open to discussing any concerns that Turkey may have about our membership in an open and constructive manner. “
Rose Gottemoeller, a former NATO deputy secretary general, said she expects Finland and Sweden’s candidacies to be successful in the end, but predicted it would be a “very difficult deal” with Turkey.
“This is a serious issue because it has always been at the top of the list of issues when I was deputy secretary general,” Gottemüller said. “They used this problem constantly as a lever.”
Senator James Rich (R-Idaho), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned whether Turkey could continue to oppose the membership of Finland and Sweden.
“If you’re a member of a group and 29 people want to do it and you don’t, it’s hard work,” he said. He also described US-Turkish relations as “pros and cons”.
Not all MPs are so diplomatic. Senator Robert Menendez (DN.J.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, warned against succumbing to Turkey’s behavior.
“In general, I do not think that Turkey should be rewarded. “Turkey has not agreed to impose any European or American sanctions against Russia, I want to say that the list is long, I do not understand how we continue to reward authoritarian figures,” he said.
Menendez warned that the administration should not accept Turkey’s requests to buy more F-16 fighters.
“I am not in favor of sending the F-16 to Turkey. They are still violating CAATSA sanctions, “Mendendes said, referring to Turkey’s ownership of Russia’s S400 missile defense system, which violates federal law.
The State Department is offering Turkey to sell upgrades and ammunition for existing F-16s, a strong signal for closer co-operation between Washington and Ankara.
MEPs are silent on whether they will support the proposal.
“I think it’s important for us to keep Turkey as a strong ally in NATO,” Senator Jana Sahin (DN.H.), also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Hill when asked if she supported modernization. on the F-16.
Some Democrats have sought to ensure strict oversight of any sale of military equipment to Ankara, particularly in response to Greece’s fears that Turkey is conducting provocative military flights over Greek islands.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned in a speech Tuesday at a joint session of Congress against arms sales to Turkey, without specifying Ankara.
“The last thing NATO needs at a time when our focus is on helping Ukraine defeat Russian aggression is another source of instability on NATO’s southeastern flank,” Mitsotakis said.
“And I ask you to take this into account when deciding on defense procurement in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Senator Tim Kane (D-Va.) Told The Hill that Mitsotakis was “absolutely right” and that lawmakers could use the 2023 National Defense Permit Act to address concerns about Turkey’s actions. in the eastern Mediterranean, but do not go into detail.
“There’s just no easy answer to that.” [U.S. and Turkish military-to-military] “Relations are still quite strong, but they are at a diplomatic and high-level level, where things are really unstable at the moment,” Kane said.
“They’re really problematic right now.”
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