GLOBAL CENTRE STAGE
it might be challenging to figure out ways and methods to replace Turkish suppliers and contractors .
Moreover , Trump also needs Erdogan ’ s military support to enact his campaign promises to create safe zones in the warravaged country of Syria , and the desire to bring US troops back home . Most importantly , Russia ’ s growing assertiveness in the Middle East is making both US and Turkey nervous despite their recent reconciliations / summits and hence enhancement of NATO will be a precautionary step . With Russia on the ash heap of history , they face no immediate threats and even if they did , they could rest easy in the knowledge that they are securely within NATO ’ s protective grasp . Therefore , US-Turkey military cooperation is not likely to be affected over Brunson spat . It will be restricted to economic sanctions and retaliatory measures .
Given the condition of the Turkish economy and other challenges for Erdogan , avoiding confrontation with the US would be a pragmatist approach . Defusing the tension over Brunson ’ s arrest can be the first step toward that . One has to keenly wait and observe the proceedings of the court trial that is set to resume in October 2018 . If necessary , the international community can help to bring US-Turkey together to negotiate the issue . Erdogan ’ s focus must be to find ways to come out of inflation and other problems related to economic instability that would transform the quality of life of his billions and more citizens .
References :
Presstv . com . ( 2018 ). PressTV- ‘ Trump frustrated with Turkey ’ s refusal to free pastor ’. [ online ] Available at : https :// www . presstv . com / Detail / 2018 / 08 / 14 / 571206 / Donald-Trumpfrustration-Andrew-Brunson-Turkey [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Hürriyet Daily News . ( 2018 ). Turkey ‘ won ’ t take step back ’ against US : Erdoğan . [ online ] Available at : http :// www . hurriyetdailynews . com / turkey-wont-take-step-back-againstus-135166 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Press , T . ( 2018 ). White House says Turkey treated pastor ' badly '. [ online ] Abc12 . com . Available at : http :// www . abc12 . com / content / news / Turkish-media-court-rejects-appeal-for- American-pastors-release-490909561 . html [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Home . treasury . gov . ( 2018 ). Treasury Sanctions Turkish Offi cials with Leading Roles in Unjust Detention of U . S . Pastor Andrew Brunson | U . S . Department of the Treasury . [ online ] Available at : https :// home . treasury . gov / news / pressreleases / sm453 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
McKelvey , T . ( 2018 ). US-Turkey row : Pastor a ' pawn in personal feud '. [ online ] BBC News . Available at : https :// www . bbc . com / news / world-us-canada-45237372 [ Accessed 27 Aug . 2018 ].
Riley , J . ( 2018 ). Qatar throws Turkey a lifeline as spat widens with US . [ online ] CNNMoney . Available at : https :// money . cnn . com / 2018 / 08 / 15 / news / economy / trade-war-trumpturkey / index . html [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Ustr . gov . ( 2018 ). Turkey | United States Trade Representative . [ online ] Available at : https :// ustr . gov / countries-regions / europe-middle-east / europe / turkey [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Branch , F . ( 2018 ). Foreign Trade - U . S . Trade with Turkey . [ online ] Census . gov . Available at : https :// www . census . gov / foreign-trade / balance / c4890 . html [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Hürriyet Daily News . ( 2018 ). Turkish , US delegations meet to mend strained ties . [ online ] Available at : http :// www . hurriyetdailynews . com / turkish-us-delegations-beginkey-meetings-to-mend-strained-ties-135611 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Rudaw . ( 2018 ). Non-conditional release of Brunson ends US-Turkey crisis instantly : Bolton . [ online ] Available at : http :// www . rudaw . net / english / middleeast / turkey / 220820182 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
US-Turkey row : Pastor a ' pawn in personal feud '. ( 2018 ). Retrieved from https :// www . bbc . com / news / worldus-canada-45237372
In a dispute that begun under Obama administration , the US has till date maintained that Ankara has failed to provide sufficient evidence against Gulen for a judge to extradite him . haaretz . com . ( 2018 ). Kremlin backs Turkish plan to dump the dollar and trade in national currencies . [ online ] Available at : https :// www . haaretz . com / world-news / europe / kremlin-wants-to-dump-the-dollar-and-trade-in-nationalcurrencies-1.6367704 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Rudaw . ( 2018 ). Non-conditional release of Brunson ends US-Turkey crisis instantly : Bolton . [ online ] Available at : http :// www . rudaw . net / english / middleeast / turkey / 220820182 [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
Macias , A . ( 2018 ). Pentagon : ' No interruption ' in US- Turkey military relationship despite standoff over American pastor . [ online ] CNBC . Available at : https :// www . cnbc . com / 2018 / 08 / 20 / pentagon-us-turkey-military-links-intactdespite-brunson-standoff . html [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
House of Armed Services Republicans . ( 2018 ). NDAA - National Defense Authorization Act . [ online ] Available at : https :// armedservices . house . gov / ndaa [ Accessed 24 Aug . 2018 ].
* Nagapushpa Devendra is a Research Assistant in the West Asia Centre , Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses ( IDSA ), New Delhi . She worked in International Institutions like Greenpeace and BBC . Her interests lie in International Law , International Theories , Refugee Crisis , Proxy Wars and Political Co-existence of West Asia with International Communities / Actors .
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018 , Noida • 23