Obama’s ideal partner: Turkey
by
JOSHUA W. WALKER*

Consider the facts: Turkey boasts the second largest military in NATO after only the US and the largest in Europe. Turkey has been a close American bilateral and NATO ally for more than 60 years. In addition to being a member of almost every European organization, Turkey is a UN Security Council member, a member of the G-20, has successfully pushed Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu as the secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and is one of the few examples of a fully functioning Muslim-majority democracy in the Middle East. On top of all of this, Ankara has close historic ties with Afghanistan that date back to the 1920s when the founder of the modern republic, Atatürk, served as a model for modernization that collapsed only after great power interference in Kabul carved up the country. Often referred to as Afghanistan’s “closest neighbor without borders,” Turkey also shares considerable cultural, ethnic and linguistic links that make it an ideal partner for the US to work with.

 The Turks have taken command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul for the second time and have doubled their troop levels to 1,600 troops in the last few months alone. Every place the Turks, both civilian and military alike, have controlled has benefited from considerable and consistent improvements in ways that few other Western allies can claim. Having once contributed the third highest number of troops in Afghanistan after only the US and Britain, the Turks today with their 2.5 million soldiers are an under-utilized and under-appreciated ally that Washington would be wise to actively court and engage.

Turkey is eager to prove its importance as a rising regional power. As demonstrated in recent months by Ankara’s moves in Armenia, Syria and Iraq, Turkey has transformed itself from a static Cold-War bulwark into a potential catalyst for regional stability. At the same time Ankara’s rhetoric and moves towards Iran, Israel and Sudan have confused many in Washington. As a result, Turkey’s new self-confidence and regional prominence would be best channeled towards Afghanistan, which would highlight Turkey’s vital transatlantic connection and newly emerging leadership role in the Muslim world.

In this respect Turkey is both internationally and domestically well positioned to play a larger role in Afghanistan. There is a broad consensus within Ankara that is rarely found between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the military establishment about the responsibility and potential for Turkish influence in Afghanistan. The AKP sees Afghanistan as being part of its historic region and offering a positive example of the constructive role Turkey’s newly activist post-Cold War foreign policy can play in producing regional stability. On the other side, the Turkish military has suffered a series of recent scandals that has tarnished its reputation at home that would be enhanced by a successful peacekeeping deployment that re-enforced the importance of Turkey’s military, not only domestically, but internationally as well. Given the rarity of such a consensus between the AKP and the Turkish military, there has never been a better time for the US to look to Turkey for help in Afghanistan.

 If the president wants to succeed in Afghanistan and actively engage America’s allies, he should begin with a personalized request to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when he visits the White House on Monday, Dec. 7. Highlighting the Turks’ considerable accomplishments in construction, education and hospital support throughout central Afghanistan would encourage Turkey to take a more active leadership role in the region. Asking for more civilian and military help in Afghanistan given the fact that Turkish diplomats, politicians, workers and even military personally can travel with a light footprint without facing many of the security problems that Western counterparts encounter makes pragmatic and strategic sense. By playing to the Turks’ newly discovered self-confidence in Afghanistan, the president can transfer critical responsibility to an ideal partner that is poised to play an increasingly important regional role for many years to come. Not only will enhanced US-Turkish cooperation serve the interests of Afghanistan but it is also a win-win for America and Turkey.