President Donald Trump quickly forgot his statement “The two countries are closer than they ever have been,” which he said to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Approximately three weeks after this visit, the visa crisis occurred.
The U.S. Embassy on Sunday evening stated that "visa applications from Turkey were halted for an indefinite period."
The reality of the U.S. visa move, which Turkey immediately responded to, is linked to Turkey’s fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), increased cooperation and dialogue with Russia and Iran, accusations of an “axis shift” and increased activity in Iraq’s north and in Syria.
Hours later the Turkish Embassy in the U.S. announced that processing non-immigrant visa applications have been suspended in retaliation to the American move.
The U.S. has now targeted Turkey, similarly to how it has punished any country that acts against its interests. Washington’s move is contrary to the alliance labelled as a strategic and model partnership. Washington has not implemented such a move to countries that it shares limited relations with.
Turkey is committed to continuing its struggle against FETÖ and its steps toward national interests regarding the developments in Syria and Iraq, despite all the reactions and sanctions.
Measures are also being taken against the possibility that the U.S. will further escalate tensions. Among the possible new steps by the U.S. following the visa crisis could be an economic embargo and the formalization of the arms embargo.
Despite the fact that the U.S. does not sell Turkey arms, yet regularly delivers weapons to the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Turkey has various trump cards to deal Washington.
Turkey has long been questioning the strategic partnership with the U.S. and the level of partnership that has evolved into model partnership. The U.S. implements covert embargoes on Turkey and carries out support activities of terrorist organizations. Thus it is not surprising that as a first step, Turkey has declared that the level of partnership between the two countries is officially reduced.
At present, the NATO mission in Afghanistan is carried out through the Turkish military. Most NATO members, especially the U.S. are barely able to leave their military bases in the country because the public does not accept them. It is reported that if Turkey withdraws from NATO, it will be difficult for the U.S. to remain in Afghanistan. Ambassador John Bass's new position is in Afghanistan. Ambassador Bass will be in a very difficult situation if Turkish troops withdraw from Afghanistan.
Incirlik Air Base is one of the most important tools Turkey has against the U.S. The base, which was used as a headquarters by putschists on the July 15 coup attempt, has become a command center for operative support to the PKK and PYD, which is evident when the situation in Syria is analyzed.
A move by Turkey regarding Incirlik has long been on the agenda, especially since Germany decided to withdraw from the base.
It is possible that landings and departures from the base will initially be halted, followed by the complete withdrawal of troops if the tension between the two countries escalates.
Incirlik, which has been a NATO base since the Cold War era, is still assigned for the use of the U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh.
If the Incirlik Air Base is closed and Turkey abandons the alliance, it will be very difficult for the U.S. to maintain its presence in the Middle East.
