Republicans and Democrats have been open to proposals by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodogan to improve ties with the United States and to wean Ankara from its military ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Relations with Turkey frayed during the previous Trump administration after Turkey bought Russian S-400 air defense systems and Congress excluded Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as part of broader sanctions imposed on Russia following Russian interference in the 2016 election.
U.S. officials at the time said the S-400s were in Türkiye. There was a security riskThis exposed the maintenance and production of the F-35 to Russian intelligence gathering, and as a result Turkey lost out on acquiring around 100 state-of-the-art fighter jets as well as military production contracts.
But the Biden administration Reportedly The proposed solution would see Turkey agree to transfer the S-400s to U.S. control or allow the U.S. access to the systems in exchange for rejoining the F-35 program.
Reinstating Turkey in the F-35 program requires approval from the top four members of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, but lawmakers spoke to The Hill expressing optimism and optimism about the move.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) smiled when asked whether the Biden administration was in discussions with Turkey about a potential solution that would give the U.S. and Ukraine access to the S-400 and allow them to research its production.
“Türkiye is [S-400]”It's getting warmer,” McCall said in response to questions from The Hill.
McCaul said he has heard the Biden administration may be seeking a deal with Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program, but said “it depends on what Turkey does in return. I don't know what that is.”
He noted that Erdogan has demonstrated his ability to push through difficult negotiations, and is in the process of ratifying Sweden's NATO membership in exchange for the delivery of U.S. F-16 fighter jets, in addition to other concessions the Turkish president has secured from Stockholm and the European Union.
“It depends on how well we work with NATO and what other things we do. This is a good way to motivate them, and I don't want to see them buy from other countries like Russia,” McCaul said of the state-of-the-art fighter jets.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was less optimistic.
“This is not a new story, we've been talking about it for literally years,” he told The Hill.
But he said he would go ahead with approving the transfer of F-35s if Turkey abandons the S-400s.
“I have always said that Turkey should abandon the S-400. How they do it is irrelevant to me. If the idea they have in mind comes to fruition, I am all for it. I proposed it to them a long time ago. In fact, the proposal was made during the Trump administration, but Turkey was not keen then. I don't know if they are keen now,” he said.
Turkey is one of the most frustrating allies for the US and NATO. Anti-democratic, Supporting Hamasreportedly Corrupt Leaders Those who use violence to silence dissent (Including against protesters in the United States) Provocative military action Against NATO allies like Greece.
But on the other hand, Erdogan said Ankara A key intermediary between NATO and its adversaries; teeth, Humanitarian aid for Syrian refugeesDue to its geographical location, spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Key players in strategic security.
“This is a real moment of momentum in our relationship,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who met with Erdogan in Ankara in February with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Conn.).
“Obviously, there are always friction points in any complex alliance structure, but hopefully we can find ways to be more integrated on defense. We need their cooperation in resolving the S-400 issue and hopefully we will see some progress.”
Shaheen, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee, said his meeting with Erdogan in February was “positive.”
“We discussed, I don't want to call it a reset, but the possibility of looking at a better relationship with the United States and Turkey going forward. Obviously, that's one of the issues that has to be addressed,” she said of the S-400s.
“I think the administration has been looking at whether there's anything that could help, but of course it depends on how it's structured.”
Shaheen also cited Greece as a key factor in improving U.S.-Turkish relations. The U.S. is often caught in the middle of the ebb and flow of tensions between Greece and Turkey over long-standing grievances and unresolved disputes. One key factor was the deployment of F-16s to Turkey in exchange for recognizing Sweden's NATO membership. Greece approved With the F-35 program, Athens will have air superiority advantages over Ankara.
But Athens and Ankara have made moves to improve relations over the past few years, with President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Held a meeting On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, he sounded a positive stance towards talks on maritime issues that have fuelled tensions.
Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said that while Athens and Ankara periodically go through cycles of tensions and improved relations, this week's talks remain a sign of hope.
“If they are starting to have serious discussions and slowly start to resolve the issues in a politically acceptable way, that would be great,” he said. “I know it's going to take time and it's going to be difficult.”
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which will be tasked with approving the F-35s for Turkey, said improving ties with Greece also paves the way for improved ties with Turkey.
“From my conversations with our Greek allies and friends, I think the relationship is better than it was before. So I think we're in a better place than we were not long ago when none of this was happening.”
Asli Aydıntaşbaş, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution's US and Europe Center, said Russia's war in Ukraine, China's global ambitions and the wars in the Middle East have reminded both Washington and Ankara of the need for reconciliation.
“Due to President Erdogan's image and the setbacks of democracy in Turkey, there is little willingness to embrace him personally. However, there does seem to be a desire to rebuild institutional ties and revive this relationship,” she said in an email to The Hill.
“So I see an increased willingness on the Turkish side to try to find a solution to the S-400 issue without sending the S-400 back to Russia, and I see an increased willingness on the Washington side to try to find a creative, politically acceptable way forward. And if Congress is in favor, this is likely to happen.”
