|
ISTANBUL, Jan. 12-- Despite continued tension in bilateral ties, Turkey and the United States are expected to manage to get on without spoiling relations, as Anakra continues its military buildup against the Washington-backed Kurdish militia in Syria. "No matter how serious the disagreements are, Ankara would seek in the end to strike a bargain with the U.S.," Hasan Koni, an analyst on international relations with Istanbul Kultur University, told Xinhua. Ties between the two NATO allies have been strained mainly because of the U.S. support to the Kurdish militia in Syria, which is seen by Ankara as a terror group. Ankara's refusal to scrap a deal on Russia-made S-400 air defense system and to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran are other major thorns in bilateral ties. The concept of identity, of which religion is a major component, is a central theme in Koni's line of reasoning, as he argued that people who grew up with an Islamic lifestyle would be naturally inclined toward the West because of its more sympathetic attitude toward the Islamist ideology. Ankara would therefore prefer to avoid disrupting ties with Washington, said Koni. Turkey has been threatening a cross-border operation against the Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria despite the U.S. commitment to protect its Kurdish ally. No crisis should be expected between Ankara and Washington, Ilhan Uzgel, an analyst on international relations who taught at Ankara University, told Xinhua. | 
