The purpose of the American senators’ meeting with Erdogan in Türkiye

According to the report of the International Group Tasnim News Agency, the visit of a delegation of American senators to Turkey received wide coverage in the country’s media. Because in recent days, we are witnessing new developments in Ankara-Washington relations, and two influential American senators met with Erdogan while Turkey has just managed to pass the congressional opposition to buy F-16 fighter jets.

Senator Jane Shaheen, Democratic member of the US Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee, Chris Murphy, one of the other members of the US Senate, along with Jeff Flake, the US ambassador to Ankara, went to meet Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish Foreign Minister Khagan Fidan was also present in this meeting.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, one of the prominent figures of the Greek lobby in the US Congress, was also supposed to attend this meeting. but it was announced that he had canceled his trip due to a sudden cold. But the media say; Erdoğan’s team also did not want Van Holen to be in this match. Because he had previously told the media: “We agreed to sell the F-16 fighter to Turkey when our diplomats received a guarantee from Ankara and made sure that Turkey would not disturb the security of Greece with this weapon.”

What do American senators want from Erdogan?

Murphy in social networks , announced that the senators meeting with Erdogan and agreeing to sell F-16 to Turkey is a historic moment to accelerate Washington-Ankara relations. But now it is clear that the problem is not only F-16, and the first priority in the meeting of American senators with Erdogan is to try to open a knot.

Morad Yetkin, one of the famous Turkish analysts, wrote about this issue: “Apparently about the importance of Turkish relations And America has been talked about, but we know that the main goal is issues related to Ukraine and Russia. Because after participating in the Munich security conference, Shahin and Murphy planned a trip to three countries: Hungary, Moldova and Turkey. Shahin announced on the Senate website that the purpose of this trip is to strengthen the unity among NATO members. The initial goal in Hungary was to convince Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to approve Sweden’s NATO membership. But Orban did not meet with Shahin and his delegation and refused to talk to them about the Swedish issue.

In the world of politics, the friendship of great leaders can It is an important tool to overcome obstacles and now everyone knows that Erdogan and Orban have become friends in these few years. American senators, who did not find a way to meet with Orban, first intimidated Moldova and then went to Erdogan. After meeting with President Maia Sandu in Moldova, Murphy wrote on X‘s account: “If Ukraine fails due to US aid cuts, Moldovans know that They will be the next target of Russian attacks”.

The trip of American senators to Turkey showed that Orban’s opposition to Sweden’s membership in NATO and the lack of internal cohesion of NATO members to continue supporting Ukraine have put the West in a difficult situation and now they want; Erdogan should play a greater role in this regard.

Falcons, couple Influential

From the point of view of political analysts Turkey’s senator, Jane Shahin, is a politician who has played a prominent role in the critical turning points of Turkish-American relations in recent years, and his meeting with Erdogan is considered a turning point. She has been to Turkey many times before. Her husband, Bill Shahin, is also an influential person who is originally from a Maronite family that immigrated to the United States from Lebanon.

Jin Shahin’s previous trips to Turkey, always in Bezengah Sensitive things have been done. For example, during the Donald Trump era and on July 29, 2018, US Senators Lindsey Graham and Shaheen went to Ankara. At that time, the agenda was to release Pastor Andrew Branson, who was arrested on charges of collaborating with Gulen’s coup followers after the July 15, 2016 coup. During that meeting, Erdogan sent the following proposal to Trump through Jane Shahin: “Give the king, take the king.”

Erdogan meant that Trump should conquer May Allah hand over Gulen and Pastor Branson, and with this exchange, the problems will be solved. But the other party was not under pressure in any way and Gulen remained in America and Erdoğan delivered Branson to America through Germany without getting any significant points.

Sahin and Graham went to Ankara again on January 18, 2019 and were warmly welcomed. Why? Because after the ground attack of the Turkish army on the Syrian Kurds, Trump wrote without compliment: “If Turkey strikes the Kurds, we will destroy its economy.” It so happened that after leaving Turkey, Graham and Shaheen visited American soldiers and Kurds stationed in Manbij, on the west bank of the Euphrates River, on July 2.

Senator Shahin had openly announced that Turkey’s operation in Syria is a threat to regional peace. He also considered the purchase of the Russian S-400 system as a wrong action, and with his advice and others, the process of removing the name of Turkey from the buyers of the F-35 fighter began. Therefore, Shahin is a senator who, although he has close relations with Erdoğan’s team, has always appeared as a courier and messenger, who is both friendly and uses the tools of openness and threats.

In the current situation, in the US Congress, there is a discussion about the continuation of arms aid to Ukraine and In addition, the aid to the Zionist regime of Israel continues, the senators went to Ankara to the political process of Western support for Ukraine; with Erdogan’s help to achieve more progress. As a result, the purpose of this trip is to continue Turkey’s support for Ukraine and contain Russia. This is where Erdoğan’s team faces a big challenge and remembers why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey, which was supposed to take place on February 12, has been postponed.

According to reports that Published in the Turkish media, Erdogan’s team has come to the conclusion that such messages will be given to American senators through Khagan Fidan:

1- America should use its influence on Israel to control. Because the Gaza crisis may spread to the region.

2- From Ankara’s point of view, US cooperation with the PKK in Syria is unacceptable and a view based on strategic partnership is necessary.

3- Turkey plays its role in grain transportation from Ukraine. The security of the Black Sea is of vital importance to Turkey and it will not allow any aggressive actions.

The last item is of particular importance. Because American sources have been thinking for some time that NATO ships will go to the Black Sea, despite the risk of violating Montero, but Ankara does not allow this.

What will happen to Ankara and, on the other hand, what will be Vladimir Putin’s view of Erdogan’s decisions?

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