News Analysis: Turkey, U.S. can forge common course in Mideast if Erdogan, Trump have close ties: experts

Ankara and Washington may have dissenting policies regarding the Middle East during the term of Donald Trump, president-elect of the United States, but if the presidents of Turkey and the U.S. build close ties, they can forge a common course in the region, Turkish experts say.

"I think Trump will practice more reconciliatory policies in the Middle East," Prof. Dr. Korkut Boratav told Xinhua, stressing that the new president of the U.S. will not pursue an "interfering policy" in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.

Elaborating on bilateral ties with Turkey, Boratav said that a safe haven in northern Syria will not be on the agenda of Trump; therefore Turkish leaders will be dissatisfied with the new U.S. president's policies in its neighboring country.

Turkey has long been demanding a declaration of no-fly zone in order to protect a safe haven in northern Syria, which would have been in line with Hillary Clinton's perspective in the war-torn country, but Trump is not likely to support such a move, he said.

Toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not a priority for Trump, even a Syria governed by Assad, which Turkey strictly rejects, seems acceptable for the new U.S. president, Boratav noted. Turkey insists the Syrian leader should step down for a solution in the war-torn country.

Acting with deliberation on U.S. soldiers' presence in Syria, Trump will not plan more than airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) militants in this country, moreover, he will probably end arms support to Syrian rebels, Boratav stated.

The new U.S. president also vowed that he would build closer relations with Russia.

"I guess Trump will not lean towards a division of Syria among jihadist groups," the expert said, adding that Trump would likely pursue more "peaceful" policies in the Middle East.

Assessing bilateral ties between Ankara and Washington, Boratav underlined Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's persona saying he is in favor of powerful leadership image such as Trump and recalled Erdogan's close relations with another "strongman" Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Boratav, the new administration in Washington might consider extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the self-exiled Islamic cleric in the U.S., who Ankara accuses of orchestrating the July 15 failed coup attempt, a charge he denies.

"Trump will be more open to the extradition of Gulen. He may use his presidential authorities in favor of extradition of the Islamic cleric," Boratav said. "We know that the new U.S. president does not take kindly to Islamic movements."

Turkey has repeatedly demanded Gulen's extradition following the attempted coup, with U.S. officials insisting that they can only extradite him if Turkey presents proof regarding his direct involvement in the coup.

Turkish Justice Ministry had already sent dossiers to the U.S. Justice Department which it said contained evidence of Gulen's involvement in the coup attempt.

In his statement on Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim urged Trump to extradite Gulen when congratulating him on winning the U.S. presidency.

Yildirim noted that "a new page" would be opened in U.S.-Turkey relations if Gulen is extradited to Turkey.

Ilnur Cevik, an adviser to President Erdogan, said with the leadership of Trump, the U.S. may pursue a joint agenda in the Middle East with Turkey and Russia.

"Meanwhile, the dynamics of the Middle East will also be pressing the new U.S. president to tend to the region. If Mr. Trump plays his cards right he can forge close relations with Russian President Putin and also with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan to forge a new course not only for the region but also to ease the tensions between Trump's Western allies and Russia," Cevik wrote in his column in Daily Sabah.

"Turkey and Russia are already moving strongly in this direction. President Trump would make a strong trio," he added. Endit