Turkey-US relations locked into a downward spiral / The Zarrab affair

The author asks: Think Turkey’s relationship with Europe is bad? Think again.

Once the bedrock of Turkey’s foreign policy, Ankara’s ties with Washington have hit an all-time low in October 2017, with Turks arresting U.S. consular employees and the United States responding with a visa ban. As of 10 October 2017, U.S. consular offices and embassies in Turkey had suspended processing visa applications for Turkish citizens, only allowing those with existing visas to travel to the U.S.

With chaos unfolding in neighboring Iraq and Syria, a fragile economy, and poor relations with neighbouring Europe, the last thing Erdogan needs in the run up to 2019 presidential elections is a crisis with the country’s long-time NATO ally. But at this point, that looks impossible to avoid.

Also note information concerning a court case starting in November 2017 in New York concerning allegation against an Iranian businessman with close connections to Turkey, Reza Zarrab. He was charged with evading Iran sanctions, and was expected as part of a plea bargain to make allegations of corruption in the Turkish government, which could have significant political and economic implications for Turkey. It could also further damage relations between Turkey and the United States. Turkish officials claimed the trial was a conspiracy by the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen.

• Primary Source

Boston Globe, 11.11.17: [Opinion]: NATO is headed for a very messy break-up http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/11/11/nato-headed-for-very-messy-break/amesBJsJk23e0GgnzgqqUK/story.html

BBC News, 01.12.17: Reza Zarrab case: Turkey seizes assets of trader in US trial http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42203274

Politico, 23-28.11.17: Why Turkey feels burned by Trump https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-feels-burned-by-donald-trump/

Polish Institute of International Affairs: PISM Bulletin, No. 27, March 2017: Prospects for Turkey-U.S. Relations in the Context of the Syrian Civil War http://www.europeansources.info/record/prospects-for-turkey-u-s-relations-in-the-context-of-the-syrian-civil-war/

Polish Institute of International Affairs: PISM Bulletin, No. 81, September 2017: Turkey’s Purchase of the S-400 System: Prospects and Consequences http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-purchase-of-the-s-400-system-prospects-and-consequences/

ESO: Background information: Turkish justice minister says second document sent to US demanding Gülen extradition http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-justice-minister-says-second-document-sent-to-us-demanding-gulen-extradition/

The Economist, 14.10.17: Hostage games. Ties between Turkey and America are near breaking point https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21730102-visa-ban-poisons-relations-between-two-nato-allies-ties-between-turkey-and-america-are-near

The Guardian, 09.10.17: US-Turkey row escalates with tit-for-tat travel and visa restrictions https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/us-suspends-handling-of-visas-in-turkey-after-arrest-of-consulate-staffer

ECFR: Commentary, 24.11.17: The Zarrab affair http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_zarrab_affair

Wikipedia: Reza Zarrab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Zarrab

The Brookings Institution: Blog, 22.11.17: Why Turkey cares about the trial of Reza Zarrab https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2017/11/22/why-turkey-cares-about-the-trial-of-reza-zarrab/

The New York Times, 21.11.17: Prosecutor and Judge Issue Rare Response to Criticism From Turkey https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/nyregion/zarrab-erdogan-bharara-kim-turkey.html

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