ArmInfo.The increased US interest in the Armenian-Turkish normalization during the Russian-Ukrainian war is due to the parallel aggravation of relations between Washington and Moscow. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"The latter once again prompted the US to return to a long-standing policy in which they consider Turkey as part of the West, representing its interests, and working to weaken the influence of the Russian Federation in the South Caucasus. In this light, I expect US pressure on Ankara to normalize relations with Armenia without preconditions, "he remarked.
However, according to the forecasts of the academician, Ankara will not agree to this, because, declaratively declaring that there are no preconditions regarding Yerevan, in fact, it is already putting them on the negotiating table as a means of pressure. One way or another, the United States, according to Safrastyan, is interested in normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations in order to weaken Russia's influence in the South Caucasus.
Turkey, in turn, is not at all interested in breaking its own strategic and very important relations with NATO or the United States. And the latter, realizing this very well, continue to play political games with Ankara, continuing to bargain on a variety of issues, which is quite beneficial for Turkey, the latter itself is not averse to playing these games, hoping to snatch something significant from the United States.
In the opinion of the Turkologist, against this geopolitical background, normalization of relations with Armenia is necessary for Turkey in order to put pressure on it and extract concessions from Yerevan, in particular, on the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. And subsequently put all this on the trading table with the United States and partly with Russia. Relations with Armenia as such, are of no special value to Turkey.
"I hope that Armenia, which for decades has consistently adhered to the course of establishing normal relations with Turkey without any preconditions, will show firmness, will not succumb to pressure from the Turkish side and will not make concessions on fundamental issues related to our identity. I think such a position will find understanding both from the United States and other centers of power in the modern world," the academician summed up.
