Is Trump Good for the Turkey-US Relationship

Is Trump Good for the Turkey-US Relationship

In contrast to the reaction in many other NATO capitals, the surprise election of Donald Trump has been met with high spirits in Turkey’s capital. The expectation in Ankara seems to reflect the understanding that the new US president will de-prioritize democracy and rule of law issues, which have increasingly become thorns in the US-Turkey relationship. Ankara also hopes that the President elect would be more amenable to the Turkish stance on Fetullah Gulen and his network in the United States. The Turkish government also expects that the new US administration will be more open to accepting a lead role for Turkey in the stabilization of a benighted Middle East. Yet against these expectations, the Trump presidency may complicate the relationship between Washington and Ankara as the US reshapes its foreign policy outlook in the Middle East and Europe. @internationalrel