Expectations differ for the outcome of the summit that will bring together Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his American counterpart Joe Biden, today, Monday in Brussels, in light of ongoing tensions between the two countries and differences in more than one file, which will not be easy to overcome, which prompts observers not to raise the ceiling High hopes for the outcome of this meeting.

Erdogan and Biden meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit, for the first time since the latter took office as president of the United States about 5 months ago, and during this period, no meeting or communication took place between them, except for one phone call last April, followed by the addition of a new file for differences. Between the two countries, the American recognition of genocide against the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire, which indicated a new period of confrontation between the two countries.

Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu have spoken several times recently about their anticipation of this summit, emphasizing Ankara’s positions, and the lack of intention to make concessions regarding the outstanding issues, especially the crisis of Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, and the subsequent imposition of US sanctions. Ankara should remove it from the F-35 fighter jet program and prevent it from being delivered to the fighters it has purchased.

On the other hand, Washington also seems determined on its positions, and prior to the summit, Ankara witnessed the visit of two high-ranking officials, US Deputy Secretary of State Shermy Windman, and Linda Thomas Greenfield, the permanent representative to the Security Council, to prepare for the summit and discuss joint files.

However, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had summarized the basis of the problem between the two countries as being related to the United States’ support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in Syria, which Ankara considers an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Washington denies.

At the forefront of the contentious files between the two countries are the Russian missiles, which Washington considers a direct threat to its modern fighters, while Ankara refuses to abandon these missiles and not activate them on the pretext that it needs an advanced air defense system. While the United States requests not to activate this system, and expel Russian experts from Turkey, according to media leaks, Cavusoglu confirmed that there is no Russian expert on Turkish soil, followed by a Russian denial. However, follow-up circles consider that the issue of missiles is just an American excuse for not providing Turkey with advanced fighters to add to its air power and compete with countries like Israel in the region.

Also attached to this file is a dispute related to the American support for the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), whose backbone is the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, and Ankara considers this matter to be fateful for it, as it says that these forces are linked to the “Kurdistan Workers” and constitute A threat to the country because of its support, while Washington believes that these forces were a striking force against ISIS and will continue to support them, which indicates the continuation of the dispute in this file.

Another outstanding file related to the issue of Halk Bank and the US sanctions against it also emerges, a file that can be negotiated on the grounds that the reason for the sanctions was the bank’s violation of US sanctions imposed on Iran, and the US administration is currently conducting intensive dialogues with Iran regarding the nuclear file.

Among the most prominent outstanding issues between the two countries is the file of the “Service” group, and its leader, Fethullah Gulen, residing in the United States, which refuses to return him with the rest of his aides to Ankara. The Turkish authorities accuse this group of trying to overthrow Erdogan in 2016, and those affiliated with the “service” have been prosecuted in Turkey and even abroad, while Washington refuses to cooperate in this file. To the differences between the two countries, the issue of recognizing the Armenian massacres was added, and it will also be present in the dialogues of the two countries.

On the other hand, the US administration believes that there is a decline in rights and freedoms and freedom of the press, restrictions on journalists and the opposition by the Turkish government, and Ankara’s failure to act in the spirit of an ally in NATO. Ankara talks about reforms related to human rights and the judiciary.

Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the summit will include many thorny files, which will not be easy to overcome, but the meeting will be an opportunity to exchange views and build on them. According to Turkish sources, there are proposals related to the formation of relevant committees to look into these files and make recommendations to the presidents of the two countries, especially on the issue of the S-400 missiles, which are the direct cause of the confrontation, according to what was announced by Washington.

On this, Professor of International Relations at Qatar University, researcher Ali Bakir, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that “regardless of what the summit will come out with, the meeting in itself is an important and positive matter, because it will allow the two parties to discuss important and problematic issues in their relationship without interference.” Other parties, and this will help discover real opportunities for cooperation between the two parties during the next stage.”

He added, “There is a positive atmosphere, and if the two presidents can reach during the meeting a formula to contain differences and focus on common interests, I believe that bilateral relations will return to the right track again,” pointing out that “there are a number of bilateral and regional files that can be worked on, and it is not impossible.” The two presidents reached such an understanding,” but added that “the ceiling of expectations should not be raised too much with regard to what is hoped for before considering the outcomes of the meeting. It is the custom to hear positive statements in such meetings, without them being quickly translated on the ground.” “.

For his part, the Turkish journalist Ismail Goktan said, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that “the main agenda between the two presidents is the issue of the S-400 missiles and the American support for the Kurdish units in Syria. Turkish defense industries, but there are some influential parties on the US government that support the PKK in an unlimited way, and at the same time accuse Turkey, and therefore there are many difficult files between the two parties, which indicates that the summit may not produce any tangible results.

Goktan believed that “America is not taking any steps in favor of Turkey in Syria, although the issue is related to Ankara’s national security, and at the same time it is proceeding with the negotiations on the nuclear file with Iran,” considering that “it is right for the United States to coordinate with Turkey for the benefit of the two countries in the region.” But Washington insists not to do that, but rather wants the relationship to be in the form of Ankara’s dependence on it, which brings relations to a dead end and raises the intensity of hatred against Washington inside Turkey,” he continued, adding, “Both sides should take positive steps and Turkey can make some concessions. regarding the missile file, but it is certain that there are no Turkish concessions related to the Kurdistan Region.”