Radio France Internationale
RFI: On Monday President Obama stopped in Turkey during his European tour. Turkey is the largest NATO and Muslim ally of the US. In Ankara President Obama sought to restore relations frayed by Turkey’s refusal to serve as a base for the US invasion of Iraq. In an address before the Turkish Parliament he declared firm US support for Turkey’s candidacy in the European Union, a move immediately rejected by France. For an analysis of the importance of Turkey for Washington and the new administration we present Grant Smith, director of the IRmep:
Grant Smith: Turkey is a focal point revealing redefined US Middle East policy. In particular [Obama] has dispensed with the slogan “war on terror” and more, in Turkey he clarified that there is no US war against Islam. We think he is trying to dispose of the entire Bush administration policy framework.
Simultaneously there is a realignment of regional relations. For example, the distance between Turkey and Israel has widened after the Israeli rampage in Gaza. Also the US is restarting direct communications with Iran. This seems to be a more productive US consideration of Syria, Turkey and Iran oriented toward diplomacy rather raw military calculations.