Turkey Hopes To Improve Relations With The US Ahead Of Joe Biden's Leadership

JAKARTA - Turkey has expressed hope that the election of Joe Biden will bring a positive start to relations with the United States (US). Hope was conveyed by a senior official after pre-election friction, when Democrats criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"We believe we can have a good start with the Biden administration," said Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan's spokesman.

"Biden knows our president personally and I believe he and his team appreciate Turkey's geopolitical and strategic value," added Kalin.

Citing France 24, Thursday, December 10, Biden caused quite a stir during the campaign by saying the US should push its rivals to defeat Erdogan's "autocrats". Turkey has turbulent relations with the Donald Trump administration, but Erdogan is known to have formed a bond with Trump, who has spoken about him with great compassion.

One of the main areas of concern is Turkey's purchase of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. The Trump administration then removed Turkey from the F-35 program over the S-400 purchase, but has so far refused to impose sanctions under the Opposing America's Enemies Through the Sanctions Act.

The law, as it is known, mandates economic penalties for countries that carry out major transactions with the Russian defense industry. "We believe that from a technical and military point of view, this problem can be resolved," said Kalin.

"But we also know that this is no longer a technical military issue. This is considered by Congress as a political issue," he said.

The massive annual Defense Bill, approved by the US House of Representatives, would sanction Turkey for its S-400 purchases. Kalin also warned that Biden needed to pay attention to "two pressing national security issues" for Turkey. Kalin also called for an end to all US support for Syrian Kurds.

Trump last year ordered a withdrawal of US troops from Syria after pressure from Erdogan sparked heavy criticism. The withdrawal of US troops is thought to leave the Kurds leading the battle to defeat extremists from the ISIS movement.

Kalin also renewed demands that the US extradite the Pennsylvania-based preacher, Fethullah Gulen. He is accused of the Turkish leadership of masterminding the failed 2016 coup attempt.

Gulen, however, denied involvement in the failed coup. Turkey labels its group a terrorist organization, but the US says they will not extradite it.