The Obama visit and after

U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit was irrefutably the most important political event of April in Turkey. From the US perspective, “peace with Islam” was the critical message conveyed by the President while emphasizing that the U.S. is not and never will be at war with Islam. From the Turkish perspective, the messages mainly focused on Turkey’s EU membership and normalization of relationships with Armenia and northern Iraq.President Obama confirmed the U.S. support for Turkish EU membership during his visit. He stressed that Turkey is linked to Europe by more than bridges over the Bosporus. He also mentioned that Turkish membership to the EU would broaden and strengthen Europe’s foundation. Obama’s support for the Turkish EU membership originates from his administration’s desire to boost Ankara’s global standing to complement the U.S. agenda in the Islamic world. Although Turkey welcomes the U.S. support of its heightened position, Obama’s open support for Turkey, we think, was a tactical mistake. Because it prepared the necessary ground for Sarkozy and Merkel to reiterate their opposition to Turkish membership by stating directly that Turkish membership would lead to further weakening of EU cohesion.As usual, Europeans do not like the US meddling in their business especially in such delicate political matters.

Second important outcome of Obama’s visit was related to Turkey's stalemates with Armenia and northern Iraq. Turkey and Armenia have clashing views on Yerevan’s dispute with Azerbaijan over Karabakh and the labelling of the Armenian killings by Ottoman Turks during the World War One. Last week, Turkey and Armenia agreed on a road map to normalize ties after a century of hostility that traces its roots to the deportation of Armenians from the Ottoman Empire in 1915. In addition to the conflict with Armenia, northern Iraq created serious tension particularly after the demise of the Saddam Regime. The ties between Turkey and Iraq have deteriorated due to the presence of the pro-Kurdish terrorist organization PKK based in northern Iraq, the origin of attacks to the Turkish territory. Following Obama’s visit, we have witnessed an improved relationship between Turkey and Iraqi Kurds on common goals pertaining to the removal of the pro-Kurdish terrorist organization PKK from northern Iraqi territory. President Obama chose Turkey as the first Muslim country to visit since becoming a president. His decision to go to Turkey at the outset of his administration clearly demonstrates the value he attaches to Ankara’s strategic importance for facilitating his approach towards the Muslim world. He praised Turkey for its strong European roots, democracy and its ability to reach out to the Muslim world. The administration further perceives Turkey as a resurgent regional power whose influence spans the Middle East, the south Caucasus, the Balkans and Central Asia. In conclusion, President Obama’s two day visit to Turkey made clear that Washington will be the primary supporter of Turkey’s rise by facilitating Turkey’s EU membership and mediating to solve the political impasses with its neighbours.