Trump or Kamala, who is Turkey supporting?
Last Updated on November 4, 2024 5:06 am
The US presidential election is just three days away. But Turkey is still in a dilemma and the leadership in Ankara is divided over who to support. Some circles close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan favor Trump, while others favor maintaining relations with Kamala Harris.
Ankara officials believe that the victory of either candidate could have a significant impact on Turkey’s foreign policy and the regional and global context.
However, Turkish officials have been unusually quiet during the US presidential campaign and have not given a specific opinion on either candidate.
Erdogan only contacted Trump via a phone call after the attack on a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last April. However, Turkey’s recent delegation to the UN General Assembly strategically attended only as an observer and did not seek formal meetings with Harris or Trump.
Positive and negative aspects of relations with Trump
Some of Erdogan’s followers believe that Trump’s re-election will be good for Turkey because of his previous relationship with Trump. Because Erdogan and Trump have previously discussed the situation in Syria on several occasions.
In a 2019 phone call, Trump also gave Erdogan the green light to launch a military operation in northern Syria.
However, some top officials in various Turkish ministries believe that maintaining good relations with US officials during the Trump administration has been difficult. According to them, various institutions in Turkey and the United States have not been able to build a stable relationship.
The possibility of a Kamala Harris administration
Meanwhile, some Turkish officials believe that relations between the two sides could be relatively stable if the administration of Vice President Kamala Harris comes to power.
Harris’ current national security adviser, Philip Gordon, has a deep knowledge of Turkey and is experienced in working with Turkey. As a result, relations between the two countries can move forward with a fair and coordinated policy.
Situation Monitoring
Turkish leaders believe that a victory for Kamala Harris in the US election could help maintain the current stable relationship, which could include increased military cooperation, including the sale of the next-generation F-35 fighter jet.
Turkish officials understand that the outcome of the US election is highly uncertain. Therefore, they are remaining neutral in this election and not taking a direct stance on any candidate.
Source: Middle East Eye