Antony Blinken THANKS Hamas Supporter For “Insight”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Hamas supporter President Erdogan for his “insight” while completely ignoring the plight of Kurds during his diplomatic visit to Turkey.

At a Glance

  • Blinken visited Turkey to discuss Syria’s transition, ignoring Kurdish concerns
  • Turkey’s Erdogan supports Hamas, complicating U.S.-Turkey relations
  • Blinken emphasized civilian protection and human rights in Syria
  • The U.S. struggles to balance geopolitical interests with human rights advocacy
  • Kurdish-led SDF’s anti-ISIS operations halted due to Turkish-backed attacks

Blinken’s Diplomatic Tightrope in Turkey

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Turkey has exposed the Biden administration’s struggle to balance strategic alliances with human rights advocacy. In talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a known Hamas supporter, Blinken focused on Syria’s transition while conspicuously avoiding discussion of Turkey’s treatment of its Kurdish population. This glaring omission has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from human rights organizations and political commentators alike.

The visit, aimed at consolidating NATO ties and stabilizing Middle East tensions, revealed the complex diplomatic landscape the U.S. navigates in the region. Blinken’s expression of gratitude for Erdogan’s “insight” without addressing the sensitive Kurdish situation underscores the ongoing challenge of aligning long-term geopolitical interests with ideological commitments to human rights.

Central to Blinken’s mission was discussing the peaceful transition of power in Syria following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The Secretary emphasized the need for an inclusive, non-sectarian Syrian government that protects minorities and women. However, the transition is being led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, raising concerns about the future direction of Syria’s governance.

“The Secretary underscored the United States’ support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Blinken stressed the importance of protecting Syrian civilians and respecting human rights and international humanitarian law. The U.S. also charged a former Syrian prison head, Samir Ousman Alsheikh, with torturing Assad regime opponents, signaling a commitment to accountability for past atrocities.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Blinken’s visit was the silence on the Kurdish issue. Turkey views the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as an extension of the PKK, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. This perception has led to Turkish-backed operations against the SDF, forcing them to halt anti-ISIS operations. Consequently, ISIS activities have increased in the Syrian desert, threatening the hard-won stability in the region.

The U.S. Central Command maintains engagement with SDF leaders, but Washington’s relative silence on the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army’s targeting of Kurds is deafening. This inaction not only jeopardizes the fight against ISIS but also calls into question America’s commitment to its Kurdish allies, who have been instrumental in combating Islamic extremism in the region.

Blinken’s diplomatic maneuvering in Turkey highlights the challenging balancing act of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. By prioritizing strategic relationships over human rights concerns, the Biden administration risks undermining its credibility on the global stage.

But they’d pretty much done that already.

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