"POLICYWATCH
Number 939January 7, 2005
Can the U.S. Win Turkey over in 2005? Understanding EU Dynamics and Confidence Building in Iraq
Soner Cagaptay
On January 3, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage visited Ankara to discuss with Turkish officials Iraq-related issues straining U.S.-Turkish relations, including unforthcoming Turkish support for U.S. operations in Iraq and the fight against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a terrorist group with 5,500- 5,800 members in northern Iraq. Armitage's timely visit comes on the heels of the December 17 European Union (EU) decision on Turkey's membership. Ankara, which has focused its energy on gaining EU status for the past two years, is now in a position to revisit its relationship with Washington, which has been badly damaged as a result of failure to cooperate in Iraq. In the aftermath of the EU decision, the United States might gain an opportunity to rebuild its relationship with Turkey by offering Ankara a vision of closer cooperation in Iraq. Otherwise, the rift in U.S.-Turkish relations could only widen dangerously in 2005. "
More:The Washington Institute for Near East Policy