Tough Breakup: US Displeased With Erdogan Targeting Kurds, Journalists

The tensions between long-standing allies Washington and Ankara mounted as the Turkish government continues to crack down on Kurds within the country and brutally suppress civil disquiet over a lack of freedom of expression in the country.

The shift in the US’ approach to Turkey became visible when President Obama wouldn’t hold an official meeting with the Turkish leader during the latter’s ongoing visit to America. Despite several common objectives with Ankara, Washington seems to be incapable of turning a blind eye to President Erdogan anymore.

Michael Maloof, former CIA officer and political analyst, believes that the major reason for the rapid deterioration of intergovernmental relations is the Turkish approach toward the Syrian crisis.

“Erdogan and Obama are on opposite ends when it comes to the preservation of the Syrian regime: the US wants to go after ISIS; Erdogan wants to use all forces and military to topple the Assad regime,” he told RT.

Both states appeared to be on the different sides regarding a Kurdish question as well, Maloof asserted.

“Erdogan is bombing the Kurds like crazy and the US is less than happy with that, and as a consequence I think it [cancellation of an official meeting with Obama] is politically a show of not being very pleased with Erdogan and the way he is treating Kurds, the journalists and in general human rights in that area.”

Moreover, amid rising hostilities in Turkey, Washington ordered to clear seven hundred American civilians from the Incirlik air base located in the southeast of the country. The row of contradictions between the states together with a constant threat to US nationals prompted the US act, Maloof explained.

Despite the latest developments, the overall relations between the two powers won’t be ruined, Faruk Logoglu, former Turkish ambassador in the US, said, as they both are bounded “common interests and goals.” To prove that point of view he said that Obama will meet with Erdogan informally.

“It is a snub, but it is not a total I am not going to meet with you whatsoever,” Maloof explained.  “I think the US is trying to send a message that they are not very pleased with Erdogan’s treatment, particularly of the Kurds.”