President Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on November 13, 2019, right in the middle of a geopolitical storm.
CBS News reported that this high-stakes meeting comes just weeks after Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria against the Kurds, key U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS, and coincides with the House Intelligence Committee’s first public impeachment hearings on the very same day.
Let’s rewind a bit to early October 2019, when Trump made the controversial call to pull U.S. troops out of northern Syria, a move that drew sharp criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
Many saw it as abandoning the Syrian Kurds, who’ve been shoulder-to-shoulder with American forces battling ISIS. It’s no secret that Turkey and the Kurds are historic rivals, with Ankara labeling Kurdish fighters as terrorists bent on carving out their own state.
That troop withdrawal opened a Pandora’s box, forcing the Kurds to turn to Russia for support as Turkish forces moved in with gusto. If that’s not a bitter pill for American interests, what is?
Thankfully, a temporary ceasefire was brokered by the U.S. to cool things down, but the chessboard shifted again when Russia and Turkey agreed to a 20-mile “safe zone” along the Syrian border, explicitly excluding Kurdish forces. Erdogan, however, recently claimed that some Kurdish fighters are still lingering in this zone, which raises questions about the deal’s teeth.
Adding another layer, Russian and Turkish troops have started joint patrols along that border, a development that hardly screams “America First.” It’s a stark reminder of how fast influence can slip away when the U.S. steps back.
Now, let’s talk about a bombshell Erdogan dropped during a speech in Ankara, announcing that Turkey had captured the wife of the late ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“We caught his wife, but we didn't make a fuss about it,” Erdogan declared, casually unveiling this for the first time. If true, it’s a significant win, but the lack of details leaves room for skepticism.
Recall that al-Baghdadi met his end on October 26, 2019, during a U.S. raid on his compound in Syria, where he detonated a suicide vest. Turkey’s claim of nabbing one of his wives could bolster their anti-terror creds, but without specifics, it’s hard to gauge the impact.
Meanwhile, Trump shared on social media about a recent phone call with Erdogan, hinting at productive talks. It seems the conversation touched on border issues, terrorism, and reducing tensions with the Kurds, setting the stage for their upcoming face-to-face.
The timing of this November 13 visit couldn’t be more charged, as it lands on the same day the House Intelligence Committee kicks off public hearings in the impeachment inquiry against Trump. Talk about a split-screen moment for the nation—foreign policy fireworks on one side, domestic political theater on the other.
Critics might argue this meeting with Erdogan is a distraction from the impeachment saga, but let’s be real: engaging with Turkey, a NATO ally, on Syria’s mess is hardly trivial. The stakes are sky-high with ISIS still a threat and regional stability hanging by a thread.
Trump’s decision to host Erdogan after the Syria fallout shows a willingness to keep dialogue open, even if it ruffles feathers at home. It’s a pragmatic move, though one wonders if concessions will be made to appease Turkey at the expense of Kurdish allies.
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Turkey’s actions in Syria, coupled with Russia’s growing footprint, paint a troubling picture for U.S. influence in the region. The “safe zone” and joint patrols are less about safety and more about sidelining the Kurds, who’ve paid in blood to fight ISIS alongside American troops.
Yet, dismissing Erdogan outright isn’t an option; Turkey remains a key player in NATO and a counterweight to other regional threats. Trump’s challenge on November 13 will be to balance holding Turkey accountable while keeping them in the fold—a tightrope walk if there ever was one.
