WASHINGTON – Turkey’s strengthened economic ties with Iran do not indicate a break with the U.S. over the threat of a nuclear Iran, just a different strategy, according to a Turkish parliamentary delegation.
During a discussion Monday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, members of the delegations pointed to the specific challenges that Turkey faces in the Middle East.
“Turkey’s neighbors are rough countries with different political cultures,” said Suat Kiniklioglu, member of the AK Party and chairman of the Turkish-American Interparliamentary Group.
Giulia Lasagni
A Turkish parliamentary delegation discusses Turkey’s foreign policy in the Middle East at the Woodrow Wilson International Center Monday.
Turkey’s foreign policy toward Iran and Israel has raised criticism from some members of Congress in recent months. Turkey firmly condemned Israel’s attack on an aid convoy headed to Gaza last May. Several of those killed during the raid were Turkish.
“Turkey and Israel are friends, but we cannot pretend as if nothing had happened,” said Cuneyt Yuksel of the ruling AK Party.
Kinikilioglu said Turkey expects apology and compensation from Israel.
Turkey also strengthened its diplomatic and economic ties with Iran.
“Turkey and the U.S. share the same objective,” Kinikilioglu said. “We don’t want a nuclear Iran.”
Turkey, however, relies on a different strategy, he said.
“The way to achieve that end is through diplomacy,” he said. “By trading with them, by offering them visas, we will bring them to the point where we would like to see them.”
This approach, based on interdependence rather than hostility with neighboring countries, will ultimately profit the U.S., Kiniklioglu said.
“If Turkey was at odds with its neighbors, it wouldn’t be a valuable partner for the U.S.,” he said.
Kiniklioglu said that Turkey does not support terrorist organizations, but Hamas does not fall under this category.“Hamas is much more complicated.”
The delegation is scheduled to meet this week with members of Congress, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the State Department.