The United States’ foreign policy has started to show signs of change. Yes, the U.S. has declared it will support any government in Israel no matter what, but the big difference is that it is also considering, directly or indirectly, engaging countries which it has considered a threat to world peace. It seems that such exclusiveness will no longer be a strategy for the U.S. At this point the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey becomes more important than ever.
Therefore the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Turkey last week should not be considered as just part of her visit to the Middle East. On the contrary, this visit is part of the U.S.’ strategy of looking for the best partner to work with in the region.
The U.S.’ Foreign Policy Concerns
The U.S. has not been in a good position in either Iraq or Afghanistan in terms of casualties. As of March 6, 2009 the death toll for the U.S. military and civilians in Iraq was 4,255 which is a considerably high number. The fragile situation in Iraq has forced the U.S. to plan to withdraw its troops starting in 2011. This is not a surprise given the pledges made by President Obama during the election campaign.
Also the deeper Middle East issues require the U.S. to look for alternative solutions and dialogue mechanisms. The multi-parties talks including the U.S., the EU, and other countries have failed to bring about a tangible peace in the region, and the lack of commitment and lack of will towards easing the tension before and after Israel’s attacks on Palestinian civilians have worsened the situation.
Iran and the debate over its ambitions to acquire nuclear technology to develop weapons of mass destruction is another chapter which may become a source of conflict and frustration in the region.
In Afghanistan, the situation is no better than the aforementioned regions. As of Wednesday, March 6, 2009, at least 589 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. In Afghanistan, the U.S. is now seriously discussing, and suggesting to the Karzai administration, the option of talking to the Taliban leadership.
Worse still is the tension in Pakistan which involves a wide variety of issues, including India and Pakistan’s own internal security problems. The Taliban’s radical ideology has become stronger in some parts of Pakistan, which shakes the country from time-to-time. Furthermore, the U.S.’ incursions into Pakistani territory have strengthened the hardliners in Pakistan.
Turkey has been following a stable foreign policy toward the Middle East. This policy, generally speaking, can be described as a balanced-coherent-cohesive-distinctive policy toward every issue in the region and in the world. This policy has attracted a lot of attention: It is difficult to sustain such a policy and requires a great deal of patience as well as encouragement from abroad.
There are areas of shared concerns for both the U.S. and Turkey, including but not limited to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East within the context of Palestine-Israel conflict, the Caucuses, and Central Asia. The U.S. has supported Turkey in its accession to the EU, and Turkey has been one of the most determined countries, if not the only one, in the region against threat of terrorism. Not only has this determination proven itself in multilateral summits, including the UN, it has shown itself in practice. The U.S., which has also suffered from terrorism, has found Turkey to be one of its most important allies in its endeavor in countering terrorism.
For those reasons, the Secretary of State Clinton’s visit to Turkey is a good indication for both countries. Her visit therefore serves as not only an encouragement, but also an endorsement, in a sense, by the U.S.
Moreover Clinton’s message about President Obama’s visit to Turkey next month enables the international community to envisage future developments in the region. In other words, this visit will tell the world that the U.S. is willing to work with a key ally in the region to overcome some of the painstaking issues.
During her meetings with her Turkish counterpart and the Prime Minister, Clinton repeatedly mentioned the fact that Turkey and the U.S. are strategic partners in the region and long time allies in almost every critical topic concerning world peace. Despite their different positions on some of those issues, the fact is that both countries have been, and will be, looking for opportunities to work together.
In the joint statement, the two statespersons stated:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan today reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, solidarity, and strategic partnership between the Republic of Turkey and the United States, as well as the commitment of both countries to the principles of peace, democracy, freedom, and prosperity enshrined in the Shared Vision and Structured Dialogue document agreed to in July 2006. Turkey and the United States reiterated their determination to continue close cooperation and consultation on all issues of common concern.
The joint statement actually dictates the method for working together: The issues ought to be discussed and the concerns of both parties and the region must be considered. The main course of action should also be in line with respecting each other’s interests as well as respecting and appreciating the unique dynamics of the region. That is why the U.S. should always discuss, consult, and work with Turkey on its foreign policy matters. Consequently, Obama’s visit to Turkey will be very critical to and meaningful for the peace and stability in the region.
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