More Bad Blood? Turkey's Ultimatum to Washington is 'Major Miscalculation'

© AP Photo / Susan WalshU.S President Barack Obama and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
U.S President Barack Obama and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Erdogan's policies will adversely affect Turkey's relations with the United States, particularly after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on Washington to give Ankara unconditional support in its fight against the Syrian Kurds, Turkey's former ambassador to Iran, Norway, Sweden, Germany and France Osman Korutürk told Sputnik.

Turkish soldiers stand guar near the Turkey-Syrian border post in Sanliurfa (file photo) - Sputnik International
Infighting? Turkey's General Staff Concerned with Erdogan's Syria Policies
Davutoglu made the comments after a terrorist attack in Ankara claimed 29 lives. The Turkish leadership blamed the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) for the attack, which the Syrian Kurds say they did not commit.

"The only thing we expect from our US ally is to support Turkey with no ifs or buts," the prime minister said on February 20. "If 28 Turkish lives have been claimed through a terrorist attack we can only expect them to say any threat against Turkey is a threat against them."

© REUTERS / Umit BektasTurkish soldier stands guard near the site of an explosion in Ankara, Turkey February 17, 2016
Turkish soldier stands guard near the site of an explosion in Ankara, Turkey February 17, 2016 - Sputnik International
Turkish soldier stands guard near the site of an explosion in Ankara, Turkey February 17, 2016

The United States does not view the YPG or the Democratic Union Party (PYD) as terrorist organizations. Moreover, the Kurds have proved to be one of Washington's key allies in its anti-Daesh efforts in Iraq and Syria.

"The United States did not offer a direct response to the 'either we or the Democratic Union Party' ultimatum, which Turkish authorities delivered to Washington," Korutürk noted. "What was the point of asking a question that brought Turkey into line with the PYD? I am absolutely sure that the Turkish leadership knew how America would react to this ultimatum."

Davutoglu remark's, according to the diplomat, were a "major miscalculation" for Ankara.

Turkish soldiers on a tank sit opposite the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane by the Kurds, at the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Turkish village of Mursitpinar, Sanliurfa province (File) - Sputnik International
Ceasefire in Syria Not Obligatory for Turkey If Security Threat Arises - PM
Korutürk maintains that Turkey's alliance with Saudi Arabia and Qatar will only lead to Ankara's greater isolation in the region. Earlier this month, the three nations expressed their readiness to send ground forces to Syria should the United States launch a military intervention in the war-torn Arab country.

The operation would ostensibly be aimed at tackling Daesh or assisting the refugees, but many have pointed out that Ankara and Riyadh would likely be focused on helping radical groups that are fighting to overthrow Syria's legitimate president.

© AP Photo / Lefteris PitarakisIn this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, southeastern Turkey, a Turkish soldier on an armoured personnel carrier watches as in the background a flag of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, is raised over the city of Tal Abyad, Syria, Tuesday, June 16, 2015
In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, southeastern Turkey, a Turkish soldier on an armoured personnel carrier watches as in the background a flag of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, is raised over the city of Tal Abyad, Syria, Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - Sputnik International
In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, southeastern Turkey, a Turkish soldier on an armoured personnel carrier watches as in the background a flag of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, is raised over the city of Tal Abyad, Syria, Tuesday, June 16, 2015

"Meanwhile, Turkey is constantly threatening everyone, although there are no grounds for [such behavior]," which takes a toll on Ankara's international standing, he added. The country is increasingly viewed as "unstable and unreliable."

Korutürk believes that Ankara should drastically reconsider its policy on Syria, which has turned out to be "flawed from start to finish."

"Did we have to deal with the PYD or Kurdish militia or the threat of a Kurdish state emerging in northern Syria 3 – 3.5 years ago? These challenges have appeared due to Turkey's flawed policies with regard to Syria," he noted.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала