U.S. and Turkey split over Russia relations
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The U.S. and Turkey differ in their approach to Russia as the Caucasus crisis signaled a change in the political landscape of the region as well as the world. (UPDATED)
In moves to counter
On the other hand
"We are located in an extremely critical area, have very complex relations with everyone involved and need to be very careful," one Turkish diplomat told TDN.
"The reality is that the shared interests which bound the United Statesand Turkey to each other in their Cold War alliance against the Soviet Union have disappeared, and Ankara now feels free to pursue its own interests with Moscow," said Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in the draft of a report that was due to be released late Wednesday.
CHANGING TIMES
During the Cold War, Turkey defended NATO's southeastern flank against the former Soviet Union but later built a close relationship and friendship with Moscow.
Today, Russia is Turkey's largest trading partner, and the value of this annual trade is worth nearly $50 billion. Turkey is also highly dependent upon Russian energy, purchasing more than 60 percent of its natural gas needs from Russia.
In response to a brief Georgian offensive against separatist rebels in the autonomous region of South Ossetia on Aug. 7, Russian forces poured into the area, captured South Ossetia, Abkhazia, another autonomous republic, and part of Georgia proper. Despite a cease-fire arrangement, Russian troops continue to occupy posts inside Georgia.
In moves to counter Russia, the United States signed a missile defense deal with Poland, angering Russia, and sent humanitarian aid to Georgia delivered by modern war ships, which was seen in Moscow as a show of force.
Meanwhile, Turkey opposed strong anti-Russian measures or language at a NATO foreign ministers meeting, and strengthened its own dialogue with Moscow.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow and later Ankara hosted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"Lavrov publicly acknowledged the favorable thrust of Turkish diplomacy by expressing an ‘appreciation for Turkey's efforts in theCaucasus,'” Aliriza said.
U.S.-TURKISH CRACK
"Vice President Dick Cheney was on a trip to Georgia, Azerbaijan andUkraine to underline the U.S. administration's determination to confrontRussian policy in the Caucasus," Wednesday's report noted.
"Significantly, Cheney's itinerary did not include Washington's closest ally in the region, and the task of maintaining contact with Turkey was delegated to William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, who was received by Erdogan on Sept. 5."
Aliriza also said the influential Turkish General Staff was developing its own links with the Russian military, in tandem with its traditionally close ties to the U.S. military establishment.
Aliriza noted that as President George W. Bush's administration will soon be replaced, it would be its successor that would have to determine how it would maintain its alliance with Turkey, as well as its future relationship with Russia.
"A related task will be to examine the efficacy and viability in the newgeopolitical environment of the East-West energy corridor which is, in essence, the product of U.S.-Turkish cooperation, carrying Caspian Sea energy to markets through the Caucasus and Turkey," Aliriza wrote.
"As the ambivalent Turkish reaction to the recent crisis has underlined, the North-South axis linking Russia and Turkey is an increasingly important factor in the shaping of international relations and energy politics in the Caucasus, as well as beyond."