Washington and Ankara’s relations are independent to the outcome of Turkey’s 14 May polls, and will remain intact, according to the US Department of State.
Asked if the Turkish elections will affect bilateral ties, the department’s deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel on Monday answered; “They won’t. We will continue to work together with whatever government is chosen by the Turkish people, and we’ll continuing to deepen those relationships, work on a number of areas of cooperation and shared priorities.”
“Turkey is, of course, an important NATO ally and has played an integral role in a number of issues that are important to the United States,” Patel said.
“But broadly, the US does not take sides in elections. Our only hope is to see a free and fair election rooted in a democratic process,” he added.
Former US Ambassador to Turkey, James Jeffrey told Voice of America (VOA) Turkish that the 14 May polls will be the first real test to see whether Turkish people support the presidential system they voted for in the referendum six years ago.
“The relations between Turkey and United States are at the moment in very good condition,” Jeffrey said, adding that in fact relations should be even better given Turkey’s importance and Ankara’s role in the war in Ukraine.
However, the same conclusion cannot be made about the style the two parties use against each other, the US diplomat said, mentioning the Turkish government’s anti-Western rhetoric and lobbies in Washington that do not see the efforts of the Turkish government as sufficient.
Citing a recent visit to Turkey, Jeffrey said that diplomatic circles do not expect a major change in Turkey’s foreign policies regarding its immediate environment and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), but do expect a possible calmer tone in foreign policy issues, in relation to a possible victory of opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the presidential race.
Washington’s former top diplomat in Turkey said that he did not think Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was serious about a rapprochement with Bashar Assad in Syria.
“I do not know if Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu will do something striking like withdrawing Turkish troops in Syria, but if he does, it will be a significant development that will affect the region,” he said.
