As reported by Nova the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet Donald Trump, at a time when relations between the two countries are at an all-time low. The tensions, already strong in recent years, have grown particularly after last October 9 launched Ankara military operation "Source of Peace" in the north-east of Syria. After initially giving the green light to the offensive by withdrawing US forces from the operations area, Trump criticized the Turkish initiative, imposed sanctions on the Ankara government and the 17 October sent its deputy Mike Pence to Ankara to negotiate a ceasefire underpinned five days later by a parallel agreement between Erdogan and Russia. However, the truce appears fragile, Turkey threatens to resume the offensive and harshly criticizes US support for Kurdish-Syrian fighters of the People's Protection Units (Ypg), which it considers a terrorist organization affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party ( PKK). For Washington, the JPGs are still a key ally against the Islamic State, as shown by the role played by the Kurds in the latest operations against the leadership of the jihadist group: it was precisely the commander Ypg Mazlum Abdi (also called Mazlum Kobane) who announced first the 28 October the killing of the spokesman of the "caliphate", Abul Hassan al Muhajir.

Although in the past the United States and Turkey had a common position in Syria hostile to President Bashar al Assad, Erdogan today seems to prefer Russian President Vladimir Putin as his partner. However, this is not a "personal matter". The relationship between Trump and Erdogan remains lively and open. In the past the head of the White House has called the Turkish counterpart "a friend", "a devil of leader", "a tough one who deserves respect". Erdogan, for his part, has repeatedly stressed that he is in tune with Trump but not with the so-called "profound state" of Washington, or with that political, diplomatic and military apparatus that on several occasions would have "hindered" the dialogue between two parts, in particular with respect to the Syrian dossier. Today's visit also saw major resistance in the United States, with a bipartisan group of members of Congress (led by Democrat Chris Van Hollen and Republican Lindsey Graham) who asked Trump to cancel Erdogan's invitation and impose new ones sanctions against Turkey.

"It is a shame that President Trump has invited Erdogan to the White House after the latter attacked our Syrian Kurdish allies"And after the forces under the Turkish command"have committed those that the same administration has called war crimes "said Van Hollen. According to the "Washington Post", the US president preceded Erdogan's arrival by sending him a letter last week stating that it is still possible to reach the common goal of bringing bilateral trade to 100 billion. However, the issue is delicate because Syria is not the only dossier on the table. The improvement in relations between Turkey and the United States also involves a series of issues that will certainly be touched on at today's meeting at the White House.

Starting from the one concerning the Turkish decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which led Washington to "freeze" Ankara's participation in the F-35 multi-role fighter development program. According to the Pentagon, in fact, the presence of S-400 on Turkish territory constitutes a danger to US national security, since it could allow Russia to obtain crucial information on the stealth characteristics of the F-35. The Trump administration will be called upon to take a definitive position on the issue in March of the 2020, when Turkey's industrial participation in the program (this involves the making of some 900 fighter components) should end up burning in Ankara, according to experts Defense News ”, a figure equal to 9 billion dollars in total. Erdogan, however, never gave up: he confirmed the purchase of the S-400 (two batteries have already been installed) and has indeed re-launched with new defense business with Moscow.

So far, despite the insistence of senior officials in his administration, Trump has avoided imposing sanctions on Turkey. However, a new “red line” has been set: that the S-400 do not become “operational” in a way that allows the system to “access the communications of the F-35”, as indicated in the “Washington Post” by government sources USA. The possible solution is for Turkey to accept constant monitoring by the United States or NATO of S-400 use: if an agreement is reached on this point, Ankara's participation in the F-35 program could be released. Another issue on the table is that related to the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish religious leader that Ankara considers the mind behind the failed coup of 2016. Gulen lives in self-exile in Pennsylvania from the 1999 and so far, despite a long series of requests, Turkey has never managed to ensure its arrest and extradition. On the other hand, the United States is asking Ankara to drop the charges against US consular officials who would have ties with Gulen himself.

Another reason for friction between Turkey and the United States is the dossier concerning Halkbank, one of the largest public banking institutions in Ankara, which last month was indicted by the United States for violating sanctions against Iran. The charge relates to the transfer of approximately 20 billion dollars in gold and liquidity through a complex network of phantom companies and false transactions that would also involve senior Turkish officials. The scandal came to light in the 2013. The indictment led to strong protests in Turkey and was defined by Erdogan as "a bad and illegal step" aimed at punishing the recent military operation in Syria.

Finally, there is the question related to a US citizen arrested by Turkey as an Islamic State fighter and expelled last Monday. The man, identified by the Turkish press agency "Demiroren" as Muhammed Darwis B, is currently trapped on the border between Turkey and Greece near the city of Kastanies. The Athens police denied him entry into the country and the man would not intend to be extradited to the United States. Erdogan's line remains rigid. "We have begun to repatriate Islamic State fighters in their countries of origin. If someone is trapped on the border it does not concern us. We will continue to expel them, where they go is a matter that does not interest us"The Turkish president told reporters before leaving for Washington.