US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman will visit Turkey following several diplomatic spats, most recently over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s choice of wording to describe Israel’s killing of Palestinian children in Gaza.
While in Ankara, she will “engage with government officials and civil society” and “underscore the importance of the U.S.-Turkey relationship as we work together with our NATO Ally to confront mutual challenges, and discuss areas of concern,” according to a statement from the State Department.
Relations between the US and Turkey have deteriorated in recent years, largely in relation to disagreements over Middle East issues, especially when it comes to Turkey’s attacks on Kurds in Syria - the most effective allies of the US in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) group in the country - and Turkey’s support for Hamas Movement in Palestine.
Unlike Turkey, the US is the main supporter of Kurds in Syria and Israel.
The United States in December announced sanctions against Turkey's military procurement agency for the purchase of a S-400 missile system from Russia.
On Tuesday, the State Department’s characterization of Erdogan's remarks as anti-semetic angered Turkey.
“We urge President Erdogan and other Turkish leaders to refrain from incendiary remarks, which could incite further violence,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. “We call on Turkey to join the United States in working to end the conflict. Anti-Semitic language has no place anywhere.”
Several Turkish officials slammed the US for the rebuke.
Fahrettin Altun, head Turkish Presidency's communications, said the statement is “unacceptable.”
“Those who do not have the courage and decency to condemn the killing of children have no moral standing to lecture anyone.”
Biden’s recognition of the Armenian genocide in April was highly criticized by Ankara. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were victims of a wide Ottoman campaign beginning in 1915, the exact date to which the genocide ended is a matter of disagreement among people.
