Biden’s statement might indicate a significant shift in American foreign policy towards Turkey and the region.
American policy makers are well aware that such a statement would deeply wound Turkish public conscience and undermine mutual trust and friendship between two countries. Biden wouldn’t make such a statement, unless all potential risks had been calculated.
The US has been concerned about Turkey’s close ties with Russia, rising military power and assertive foreign policy. Trump administration somehow didn’t know or didn’t want to ‘deal’ with Turkish problem.
If Turkey is not tractable, it is perceived as defiant.
In the coming future, we might expect such bold steps against Turkey.
As legend goes; Americans are believed to say that “Turkey is so important that it shouldn’t be left to Turks”.
Soon after he became president Biden said he would put internationalism at the heart of his foreign policy and declared triumphantly that “America is back”. Leaving Afghanistan, stopping the US support for the war in Yemen, sending warships to the Black Sea and now ‘genocide’… Where is Biden planning to take the US?
Eventually, Biden’s statement is not a scholarly elaborated work and it is not binding from the perspective of international law. Calling century old events ‘genocide’ at the risk of deteriorating its relations with a NATO ally might seem adventurous for the US.
The Turkey – US relations might gain an antagonistic character in the coming future. At least unless Turkey becomes ‘tractable’ as desired by Americans.
