Turkey Is A Strategic Partner For The Us

The Turkey-US partnership began during the heightened tension of World War II and has only gotten stronger over the intervening 80 years.

The economic relationship between Turkey and the United States spans eight decades and is as robust today as it has ever been. The tie between Turkey, the nexus between Europe and Asia, and the largest economy in the western world has thrived throughout the tenures of 14 US presidents, from FDR to Trump. That includes eight years of the Obama Administration, when foreign direct investment by the US to Turkey rose precipitously, reaching a height of $12 billion. The bilateral trade between Turkey and the US has also skyrocketed since 2008, reaching a recent all-time high of $21 billion. The bilateral economic relationship has simply become too established and critical to both partners – economically, strategically, militarily for any political change to set back the crucial progress we’ve made together this century.

Biden’s “Build Back Better” Plan

Even better, President-Elect Biden’s announcement of his “Build Back Better” plan to remake the American economy has Turkey poised as a lynchpin of that proposal. First, the Biden Administration seeks to mobilise manufacturing in the US while repairing and strengthening supply chains. Turkey already plays an integral role in the international supply chain, and has for quite some time, particularly in the US. As China continues to seek to import its influence over the world’s supply chain(s), Turkey remains a ready, willing and able partner of the US in tamping down China’s attempt at growing its influence. Therefore, Turkey is a key tenet of the incoming Administration’s overall worldview.

Turkey Is One Of The Largest Importers Of The Us LNG

Biden’s plan calls for a clean energy future and modernising America’s infrastructure, including its energy grids. As the burgeoning LNG industry in the US continues to grow exponentially, finding suitable export partners for the world’s cleanest fossil fuel becomes integral to the success of the industry. Well, Turkey is already one of the largest importers of US LNG, due largely to Turkey’s access to world- class terminals and refining facilities. One fifth of Turkish imports of LNG emanate from the US and the percentage is growing. If the US is focused on a new energy future, Turkey is already performing as one of its most strategic bilateral partners in the energy realm.

The Us Needs Capable And Strong Partners

The final two legs of the new President’s four-part plan involve creating well-paying jobs in the education and caregiving industries and to continue to pursue a level of racial equality in the workforce that cares not for creed or colour, but for skill and talent. I was so pleased to see that President-Elect Biden has chosen many women to fulfil senior leadership rules in the executive branch, a fine example of practicing what you’ve preached. Creating well-paying, lifetime jobs, whether teaching, caregiving, or manufacturing parts that enter the global supply chain, necessitates strong, well-intentioned and capable trade partners for the US around the world. Turkey is already playing that role in the all-important Middle East region. And a concerted effort by both nations to increase that bilateral trade from $20 billion to the $100 billon goal set out by Presidents Erdogan and Trump can lead to improved employment numbers for the US throughout the four years of the upcoming Biden Administration.

Biden’s Plans Sound A Lot Lıke Turkey’s Plans

The Turkey-US partnership began during the heightened tension of World War II and has only gotten stronger over the intervening 80 years – through changes in leadership, international energy crises, the dawn of the internet age and the election of both Democrats and Republicans to the White House. Turkey is not worried about working with President Biden. His plans for the future of the American economy sound very much like those of Turkey, too.

Deputy Secretary General at DEİK Merih Kepez