Friction with US may affect Turkey's trajectory in NATO
US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a fist bump in Brussels, but a figurative fistfight continues between Congress and Ankara.
The NATO summit in Brussels July 11-12 witnessed amicable fist bumping between US President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. The interaction was particularly noteworthy given the unprecedented row that took place between Trump and European leaders. His jovial gesture stood in stark contrast to his bellicose posturing with others.
When Trump reportedly said of Erdogan, “I like this guy,” Turkey’s pro-government media — and nearly all Turkish media is controlled either by the government or by pro-government figures — welcomed the remarks. The Turkish side interpreted it as America's endorsement of Turkey’s increasingly autocratic leader at a time when his image and relations are ebbing with the West in general.
In a previous Al-Monitor piece written on the eve of the NATO summit, I predicted the meeting would be considered Erdogan’s first foreign policy test following his June 24 electoral victory. I emphasized that he would pass that exam easily, as the other attendees would be preoccupied by the expected tension between Trump and other European leaders and the upcoming Helsinki meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. I was right about that, but I hadn't predicted Trump would go so far as to say he actually likes Erdogan and the two would share a strongman "bro" moment.
After such a show in Brussels, many people believed the release of jailed American pastor Andrew Brunson was a foregone conclusion. Alas, a Turkish court rebuffed appeals to free Brunson, and the trial was adjourned until Oct. 12.
