On 9 September, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador and the US President’s Special Representative for Syria and Iraq, in Ankara. Following closed-door talks, the diplomat stated that the alliance between Washington and Ankara «has never been stronger». According to him, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to regional security, economic cooperation and a long-term partnership.
Briefly about the main points
- Erdogan held closed-door talks with US Ambassador Tom Barrack.
- An American diplomat described the alliance between the two countries as the strongest it has ever been.
- The day before, Barrack and Congressman Darrell Issa met with Hakan Fidan.
- Contacts intensified following the NATO summit in Ankara in July.
- No new agreements or specific decisions were announced following the meeting.
Talks at the presidential complex
The meeting took place behind closed doors at the presidential complex. Along with Barrack to Erdogan A member of the US House of Representatives arrived Darrell Issa with his wife.
The Turkish side has not published a detailed agenda. Barrack emphasised that Turkey and the United States remain NATO allies, economic partners with whom we have long-standing relationships.
A series of meetings following the NATO summit
The day before, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed Barrack and Issu in Ankara. The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that the talks had taken place, without revealing their content.
The current contacts are continuing the dialogue that gained momentum following the July NATO summit in Ankara. There, Erdogan met with the US President Donald Trump; the parties planned to discuss bilateral relations in the fields of defence, trade, investment and the expansion of cooperation.
Following the summit, Trump described the Turkish president as a «great leader» and a long-standing friend, and called the summit a success.
The Syrian mandate and the issue of defence cooperation
Barrack holds the post of US Ambassador to Turkey alongside his role as the US President’s Special Representative for Syria and Iraq. This lends his visit particular political significance, given Ankara’s role in regional security.
During the presidents’ talks in July, the issue of Turkey’s reinstatement into the F-35 fighter jet programme was raised. Erdogan stated at the time that he expected a positive decision from Washington and referred to previous agreements.
According to the US Congressional Research Service, US law does not permit the transfer to Turkey of F-35, as long as it possesses Russian S-400 systems or related components. Following the recent meeting, the parties did not announce any new arrangements regarding this programme or any other agreements that had been signed.
