Russia and democracy factors in Turkish-US relations

It was April 2009 when new U.S. President Barack Obama paid his first overseas visit to Turkey and delivered a speech in the Turkish parliament.

Hopes were high. Turkey looked like a perfect example in its region for American eyes looking from some 10 thousand kilometers away. The economic figures were better than many European countries. The democratically-elected moderate Islamic government led by Tayyip Erdo?an was curbing the enthusiasm of the military in politics. The ?Zero problems with its neighbors? slogan in foreign policy was seemingly working. Turkey was mediating between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program, beginning to talk with Armenian and Kurds in Iraq, had excellent relations with Syria and Egypt; yes, there was this ?One minute? problem with Israel, but that seemed recoverable, too. The Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) government was like a cure for cancer to Middle East ideologues in Washington D.C.; it was Islamic, democratic and economically successful.

The picture in April 2015, seven years after Obama?s speech, is quite different as the Turkish foreign minister is about to talk to his host, John Kerry.

First of all, the Turkish economy is no longer a success story with rising unemployment, inflation and a decrease in growth and the value of the Turkish Lira. The Turkish economy has been idling for the last three years according to President Erdo?an, who tends to put the blame on an international interest rate lobby working against Turkey?s success. As Turkey became the chair for the G-20 group, Turkey?s rank among them fell from 17 to 19 last year.

Secondly, Erdo?an and his prime minister, Ahmet Davuto?lu, publicly regret the trials against members of the military and accuses their former...