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    Categories: 2021

Turkey in fresh war of words with US over coup plot accusation

Arab News


Feb. 6, 2021

ANKARA: Turkey has reignited its war of words with the US after a
senior Turkish minister accused Washington of being behind the
country’s failed 2016 coup.
Suleyman Soylu, Turkey’s interior minister, blamed the US for
orchestrating the failed overthrow attempt and for hosting preacher
Fethullah Gulen, who has been accused of controlling the uprising
through a deep cover network hidden within the Turkish state.

Washington further fanned the flames in statements claiming that
Turkey initiated a “disproportionate crackdown” on domestic student
protests.

The accusations come as Turkey looks to repair strained ties with the
US following last year’s sanctions over the sale of Russia’s S-400 air
defense system.

Ankara has opened several diplomatic channels with regional rivals,
including Greece, France and Israel, and has halted aggressive moves
in the Mediterranean as a goodwill gesture to the Biden
administration.

Max Hoffman, a Turkey analyst from the Washington-based Center for
American Progress, said that Soylu’s accusation could be connected to
an ongoing domestic power struggle within Turkey.

“I have to wonder at a certain point if Soylu is actively trying to
undermine Erdogan. The official line is clearly to try for a reset.
The economy is in shambles. And Soylu is the conservative heir
apparent,” he said.

The US State Department has condemned the accusation as “unfounded and
irresponsible.”

“The US had no involvement in the 2016 attempted coup in Turkey and
promptly condemned it. Recent assertions to the contrary made by
senior Turkish officials are wholly false,” it said.

Washington’s rejection of Turkish demands for Gulen’s extradition have
angered Ankara in the past.

Experts have said that the Biden administration will be tougher on
Turkey over its human rights and democratization record, contrary to
the hands-off approach put forward by previous administrations.

It remains to be seen how Biden’s team will push for harder lines on
Turkey’s democratic record, considering its status as a NATO ally.

“Contrary to Turkey-EU relations, Ankara’s relationship with
Washington doesn’t have concrete elements such as financial support to
refugees or a customs union as the centerpieces of their dealings,”
Marc Pierini, an academic and former EU envoy to Turkey, told Arab
News.

He said that Ankara “cannot attempt to leave rule-of-law issues on the
side when talking to Washington.”

Turkey has blamed “foreign meddling” for playing a role in ongoing
student protests throughout the country, with a harshly worded foreign
ministry statement pointing to a “US finger” in the demonstrations.

“We warn certain circles abroad not to use language provoking groups
that resort to illegal ways and encourage illegal actions,” the
statement said.

Police attacks on protesters in Turkey have alarmed Washington. About
600 people have been detained, with protests spreading to major cities
and the government labeling demonstrators “terrorists.”

On Friday, a group of 3,317 academics around the world released a
joint statement criticizing Turkey and calling for the resignation of
Bogazici University’s new rector Melih Bulu, who was appointed by
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a political loyalist.

US activist Noam Chomsky branded the student protests as “courageous
and honorable.”


 

Antranik Varosian: