Turkish Official Seeks Stronger US Ties Amid Regional Challenges

Fuat Oktay, Chair of the Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the need to build "more structured" ties with the United States while utilizing parliamentary diplomacy during a news conference in Washington, DC, following meetings with US officials. Oktay's visit aimed to improve relations between Türkiye and the US, focusing on cooperation on various regional and global issues.

Why this matters: Strengthening ties between the US and Türkiye can have significant implications for regional security and stability, particularly in the Middle East. Improved cooperation on issues like counter-terrorism and NATO enlargement can also have a positive impact on global affairs.

During his three-day visit to Washington, Oktay held separate meetings with four senators and 12 congressmen to discuss a wide range of topics affecting Türkiye-US relations. These included the fight against terrorism, NATO enlargement, andregional issuessuch as the Gaza war, the Cyprus issue, the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russia-Ukraine war, Türkiye's bid to purchase F-16 fighter jets from the US, and the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Oktay stressed the importance of improving relations in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, stating, "It is time to improve relations in both the House of Representatives and the Senate." He also expressed concerns over the US cooperating with the PKK, a terrorist organization, under the pretext of fighting against Daesh/ISIS, emphasizing that "it is unacceptable for a state like the US to cooperate with another terrorist organization under the pretext of fighting against a terrorist organization, namely Daesh."

Regarding NATO enlargement, Oktay clarified that Türkiye is not against the alliance's expansion but emphasized that "each member must have absolute trust in the other." He also touched on the ongoing Gaza war, calling for a three-stage road map that includes a permanent cease-fire, delivering humanitarian aid, and realizing a two-state solution. Oktay underscored Türkiye's support for the oppressed, stating, "We are a nation that always supports the oppressed ... it is not possible for us to ignore this."

The meetings between Oktay and US officials come amidst strained relations between Türkiye and Israel, which have deteriorated further due to the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Türkiye halted all trade with Israel, with Turkish exports to Israel reaching $5.4 billion last year. The Turkish Trade Ministry called on Israel toincrease the flowof aid into Gaza.

Fuat Oktay's visit to Washington and his discussions with US officials underscore Türkiye's commitment to strengthening ties with the United States while addressing critical regional challenges. As Türkiye navigates complex issues such as the fight against terrorism, NATO enlargement, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Oktay's emphasis on building trust and supporting the oppressed highlights the nation'sprioritiesin its foreign policy approach.

Key Takeaways

• Turkish official Fuat Oktay meets with US officials to improve relations and cooperation.
• Oktay emphasizes need for "more structured" ties with the US and parliamentary diplomacy.
• Discussions focus on counter-terrorism, NATO enlargement, and regional issues like Gaza and Cyprus.
• Oktay criticizes US cooperation with PKK, a terrorist organization, and calls for trust in NATO.
• Türkiye halts trade with Israel due to Gaza war, calling for increased humanitarian aid.