The Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate voted today to classify the 1915 massacre of Armenians by the Ottomans as genocide, despite strenuous objections from the White House. The result? Turkey has immediately withdrawn its ambassador to Washington.
At a time when American relations are already strained with Middle Eastern nations and with the Muslim world in general, it hardly makes any sense to rile up the only Muslim democracy in the region and a long-time U.S. ally.
From the perspective of U.S. interests in the region, Armenia hardly provides any benefit at all. It has no strategic value whatsoever, apart from its possible value in creating unnecessary ill-will with Russia, Turkey or Iran. Turkey, on the other hand, has had a long history of friendly relations with the U.S., beginning with the end of World War I. It has been a member of NATO and has provided Americans access to its bases. Moreover, one of the justifications given for supporting Israel is that it is a democracy. The same would apply to Turkey, which is more critically the only Muslim democracy in the region. Until recently, Turkish relations with Israel have also been warm.
Now, the Armenian genocide was committed by the Ottomans, who were removed from power in 1919 by the Allies. Kemal Ataturk and his successors have roundly criticized Ottoman policies, repudiated many of their practices and established a secular, democratic state. Why does the U.S. have to wade into this ancient mess?
Of course, Turkey has been engaging more of its neighbors in recent years, as its EU membership bid has been actively stalled and several Western states have classified the Armenian massacre as genocide. Western commentators regularly criticize Turkey for something or the other. Schenker writes in the WSJ:
Since the 1930s, the country has been a model of modernization and moderation in the Middle East. But absent a remarkable turnaround, it would appear that the West is losing Turkey
The turnaround, however, has to come from the West in its attitude towards Turkey. If Turkey doesn’t feel welcome in Europe, it will, undoubtedly, turn towards the other side, which includes Syria, Iran and others.
Today’s vote will not punish Turkey. It will not further democracy in the Middle East. Nor will it support secularism in Turkey. What does it really do? Increase campaign contributions for Howard Berman, the committee chair, and others with powerful Armenian backers.
