BY OKAN MUDERRISOGLU
SABAH- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the US was remarkable, despite remarks which gave the impression that Iran was protected and Israel was criticized in an atmosphere where claims of a foreign policy shift flared up. Anyone who remembers Erdogan's 2007 meeting with then US President George W. Bush will agree that Erdogan was self-confident in his meeting with Obama.
The Iranian controversy remains tricky. Tehran's diplomacy is being buffeted by different governmental forces. On the one hand, Iran is challenging the US, putting off the European Union, and threatening Israel. This wing thinks that the US, fighting the economic crisis and still embroiled in Iraq and Afghanistan, won't be able to use force. On the other hand, there are some who are displeased with Turkey's role and regional leadership. Few in Iran seem to realize that a nuclear capability could be a guarantee, but also a danger in that it might attract a military strike from the US and Israel before it reaches a higher level. In addition, the US' planned NATO missile shield might be a surprise source of tension. The request that Turkey allow a radar station for this shield made some wonder if it would be used against Iran or not.
Another issue affecting Turkish-US relations is Armenia. The Obama administration wants the protocols between Turkey and Armenia implemented as soon as possible and is urging next April as a target date. The insistence on this could mean dropping Ankara's insistence that unless the Karabakh issue is solved, nobody should expect normalized Turkish-Armenian relations.
For Erdogan, the most critical issue was the US putting pressure on Iraq's regional Kurdish administration, ridding Mt. Kandil of terrorists, and continuing military cooperation against terrorist groups infiltrating the border. As the bodies of soldiers killed by the PKK are reaching mourning families, the White House meeting stressed that the emphasis on the PKK as the common enemy and real-time intelligence sharing continue under Obama. It was also important that the US offered technological help, because the delivery of unmanned air vehicles was late due to problems with Israel. But Obama and his team are focused on making the regional Kurdish administration dependent on Baghdad as well as next month's Iraqi general elections, so it would be overly optimistic to think that it would pressure the administration there.
Erdogan and Obama also set up a new model for economic and commercial relations. It's unlikely that the US, struggling with the global economic crisis, will favor new free industrial zones or the Turkish clothing sector. But of course relations between Turkey and the International Monetary Fund, energy projects and boosting trade will be part of this model. Even Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan's contact with IMF officials after he left the White House shows that the latest push to bring together Turkish and American officials will be very versatile. As the US is known to use such cooperation mechanisms as a distraction, Ankara should keep a close eye on this.