Transcript
The Inside Story: NATO in Washington
Episode 152 – July 11, 2024
Show Open:
This week on The inside story:
The 75th anniversary of the world’s largest military alliance.
NATO members meet in Washington to discuss European security and the defense of Ukraine.
Plus, right-leaning parties take a beating at European polls… as the continent eyes the November elections in the U.S.
Now… on The Inside Story: NATO in Washington.
The Inside Story:
KATHERINE GYPSON, VOA Congressional Correspondent:
Thank you for joining us. I’m VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson in Washington.
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization turns 75 this year, and leaders of the 30 European countries, the US and Canada that make up the alliance gathered in Washington to celebrate their commitment to the alliance and renew their commitment to European security.
VOA’s Anita Powell reports from Washington.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US NATO TUESDAY
HEADLINE: Biden launches NATO summit with sober warning about global threats
TEASER: Biden, weakened politically at home, makes the case before NATO allies for peace through strength
PUBLISHED AT: 07/09/2024 at
BYLINE: Anita Powell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, David Jones (bal), Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Zoom
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday welcomed NATO leaders and heralded the alliance’s 75th anniversary while making the case for peace through strength amid the largest challenge to peace Europe has faced in decades. Other administration officials made similar arguments for bolstering defense to fight global threats. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington. ]]
((Establish Biden from speech, wires or pull from https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/))
((NARRATOR))
President Joe Biden made a forceful case for peace through strength as NATO members gathered Tuesday in Washington to mark 75th anniversary of the security alliance as it faces what may be the biggest test in its history.
((SOT, English, from 1:05:06 in file, find here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6D3-fDtOmY – note cut))
((U.S. President Joe Biden))
“It's good that we're stronger than ever. Because this moment in history calls for our collective strength. // Terrorist groups continue to plot evil schemes, to cause mayhem and chaos and suffering. In Europe, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues. And Putin wants nothing less – nothing less – than Ukraine's total subjugation, to end Ukraine's democracy, to destroy Ukraine’s culture and to wipe Ukraine off the map. And we know Putin won't stop at Ukraine. But make no mistake: Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
((Show Blinken speaking Tuesday at sideline event AP-4505097))
((NARRATOR))
His argument was bolstered by other members of his administration on Tuesday,
((NATO summit setup broll, AP-4505152– this is because there is no Sullivan speech footage, though I got the White House to send me the transcript so I know what was said))
with his national security adviser speaking to defense industry executives and invoking a Roman adage: If you want peace, prepare for war.
((Show Stoltenberg throwing the first pitch at the Nats game, start from about 0:36 and leave room for the announcer saying “great pitch, again, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of NATO” – if you keep that, then we also don’t need a radio intro for him as they say his name))
And the alliance’s chief began making his pitch – literally and rhetorically – right after landing in Washington.
((SOT, English, AP-4505108))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General (English?))
"Sign a new defense industrial pledge. And that will be a pledge that will help to make our industry across Europe and North America stronger, more innovative and capable of producing at scale."
((Show Biden giving Stolty the medal, from 1:15:02 in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6D3-fDtOmY))
((NARRATOR))
Biden, in his remarks, acknowledged Stoltenberg’s role in the alliance by surprising the former Norwegian prime minister with the U.S.’s top civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
((Biden stumping and talking about his not-great debate, AP-4504478))
But analysts ask whether this show of presidential power at the summit can obscure Biden’s obvious political troubles at home after a poor debate showing led to mounting calls for him to leave November’s presidential race.
((Radio: Giselle Donnelly is a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. She spoke to VOA on Zoom.))
((SOT, English, Zoom, from 4:25 in interview, here: https://app.frame.io/player/069103a9-5863-40b1-bff4-94a4d94f2b0f
((Giselle Donnelly, American Enterprise Institute)) ((Zoom))
“It should remind us of the criticality of American leadership of this alliance. It is an American creation. It survives and prospers and thrives and is driven on American leadership. And when doubts arise about American leadership and American leaders, the alliance, you know – when the American president catches a cold, NATO gets pneumonia.”
((End with Biden shot from speech here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6D3-fDtOmY))
((NARRATOR))
It’s a sobering thought as NATO meets under the hospitality of an embattled American president: that his weakness – and likewise, his strength – are contagious.
((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US NATO WEDNESDAY (TV)
HEADLINE: Ukraine, China front and center of NATO 75th anniversary summit
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, 07/10/2024 at 11:05pm
BYLINE: Carla Babb
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Aru Pande
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, Jepsen
VIDEO SOURCE (S): DVIDS and FEEDS
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:23
VID APPROVED BY: wpm
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[NATO allies on Wednesday pledged to support Ukraine on an "irreversible” path to integration while calling on China to cease all support for Russia's war effort against Kyiv. This as new fighter jets are set to patrol the skies of Ukraine. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb has the details. ]]
((NARRATOR)) ((DVIDS- Courtesy Department of Defense))
American-made F-16s fighter jets like these -- now heading to Ukraine from NATO allies Denmark and the Netherlands.
((Lloyd Austin, US Defense Secretary))
“The transfer of F-16s is officially underway, and Ukraine will be flying F-16s this summer.”
((NARRATOR))
All 32 allies in a communique calling Ukraine’s path to NATO membership “irreversible,” in a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he simply cannot wait out NATO allies.
((Radio intro: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General))
“The work that we are doing together now will ensure that when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay. It is not the question of if, but when.”
((NARRATOR)) ((US President Joe Biden at working group))
U.S. President Joe Biden Wednesday pressed NATO allies to continue their increased defense spending in order to keep up with Russia’s wartime production levels.
((US President Joe Biden))
“They're significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions and vehicles, and they're doing it with the help of China, North Korea and Iran. We cannot, in my view, we cannot allow the alliance to fall behind."
((NARRATOR)) ((Shot of Xi and Putin))
The alliance also calling on China to cease its support of Russia’s war machine …
((File of Ukraine hospital attack))
saying it cannot enable the largest war in Europe in nearly 80 years without negatively impacting its interests and reputation.
((Radio: Again, NATO’s Stoltenberg))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General))
“The declaration that we have agreed to today is the strongest message that NATO allies have ever sent on China’s contributions to Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.”
((Brad Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies)) (7:05-15))
“They're providing dual-use technology and support to Russia's defense industrial base, enabling Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine and allowing him to fight longer and to replace his losses.”
((NARRATOR))
Analyst and veteran Brad Bowman tells VOA that calling out China was long overdue for the 32-member bloc.
((Brad Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies))
((7:41-49))
“Europeans are dying in Europe in a war of aggression from the Kremlin with the support of Iran, North Korea and China, period.”
((NARRATOR)) (shots of NATO members)
Non-NATO partners from the Indo-Pacific joined NATO allies for the summit in Washington this week. Officials say attendance by Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand sends a message to China that democratic alliances will stand up for the rule of law, no matter where an aggressor tries to break it.
((CARLA BABB, VOA NEWS, WASHINGTON))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Sweden as the newest member of the NATO alliance. But after some pomp and circumstance, the summit pivoted to planning for Ukraine’s defense.
U.S. President Joe Biden:
|
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0712 WHO MIGHT REPLACE BIDEN
HEADLINE: Who might replace Joe Biden as Democratic Party nominee?
TEASER: President says he is staying in the race amid calls for him to quit
PUBLISHED AT: 07/11/024 at 8:53pm
BYLINE: Scott Stearns
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Denver
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Bush
SCRIPT EDITORS: VOA, Reuters, AP
VIDEO SOURCE (S): MAS, sv
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:49
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. President Joe Biden is rejecting calls by some leaders of his political party to step down as its candidate following a debate with Donald Trump last month in which Biden sometimes struggled. If Biden is not the Democratic Party nominee, who would be? VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns looks at some of the contenders.]]
((NARRATOR))
President Joe Biden says he is in this race to win.
((President Joe Biden))
"I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president.”
((NARRATOR))
Following his debate struggles late last month, some leaders of his party are calling on Biden to step down as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
((NARRATOR))
But after months of voter primaries and caucuses, the Democratic Party cannot force him out, says University of Virginia Center for Politics director Larry Sabato.
((Larry Sabato, University of Virginia))
“There is only one way for a nominee to be removed, and that is for the nominee to decide not to run before the convention, to open it up, to let the in this case, Democratic National Committee, set the rules for the convention.”
((NARRATOR))
If Biden does step down, vice president and running mate Kamala Harris would top the list of Democrats to replace him.
((NARRATOR))
Harris says Biden is the party’s nominee and demonstrated her loyalty by slighting Trump, who has split from his former vice president Mike Pence.
((Kamala Harris, US Vice President))
"Note between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, only one candidate on that stage has the endorsement of his own vice president --- Joe Biden." (CHEERS/APPLAUSE)
((NARRATOR))
Harris as the party’s presidential nominee might help with independent voters, says University of Southern California political science professor Christian Grose.
((Christian Grose, University of Southern California))
“The one thing about Kamala Harris that I think makes her a little bit more electable than Biden right now is if you look at the polling, there’s more independents that are undecided about her right now so she can persuade people in a way that Biden maybe can’t persuade people to move.”
((NARRATOR))
Also on the completely unofficial list of people who might replace Biden is California Governor Gavin Newsom.
((NARRATOR))
He too says he is backing Biden and showed his support campaigning for the president’s re-election in Michigan last week.
((Gavin Newsom, California Governor))
"I care about results and outputs, and he's produced. And so I'll leave more objective minds to judge that. But I'm not looking for a performer in chief, I'm looking for a commander in chief."
((NARRATOR))
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is among those discussed as a possible Biden replacement. She too says she is still backing the president.
((NARRATOR))
Whitmer won re-election in an important swing state and is popular with national Democrats for supporting labor unions and efforts to combat gun violence.
((Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Governor))
“Week after week in America, we see grim, familiar headlines. Every place you can think of, every situation you can imagine, has been shattered by gun violence.”
((NARRATOR))
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is less-known nationally than Newsom or Whitmer, but he is a popular governor in a Southern region dominated by Republican politics.
((NARRATOR))
Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker hosts this year’s Democratic convention and has the personal wealth to self-finance much of what would be a last-minute presidential run.
((NARRATOR))
And then there is former first lady Michelle Obama, who has consistently rejected any notion of running for office but who remains popular with many voters. A Reuters-Ipsos poll last week showed Biden and Trump in a tie but Michelle Obama beating Trump by more than ten percentage points. Sabato says there is no way she is running.
((Larry Sabato, University of Virginia))
“She's much too smart after eight years in the White House to want to go back, much less to be president. So, you know, we could speculate about names all night long, but what matters is who has the intense ambition or the ability to raise money and the opportunity to put together the kind of coalition that could produce a majority in the convention.”
((NARRATOR))
If Biden stays in the race, that speculation about other names may carry on through next month’s Democratic Party convention in Chicago.
((Scott Stearns, VOA News))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
We turn now to France, where a political whirlwind these past few weeks saw the stunning rise and fall of the far right’s bid for power. Now, talks begin to find a political path forward following snap legislative elections that put the left – and not the far right – on top. France now has no clear political majority or roadmap to forming a government just three weeks before the Paris Olympics. Lisa Bryant reports from the suburbs just outside of the French capital.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: FRANCE ELECTION WHAT’S NEXT
HEADLINE: France faces uncertain future after left surges in legislative runoff
TEASER: With no party capturing majority, country braces for gridlock
PUBLISHED AT: 7/8/24
BYLINE: Lisa Bryant
DATELINE: Neuilly Plaisance, France
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agency, Lisa Bryant
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[Talks to find a political way forward have started in France, following the stunning results of snap legislative elections Sunday that put the left, and not the far right, on top. The polls left the country with no clear political majority or path to forming a government, just three weeks before the Paris Olympics. Lisa Bryant reports from the suburb of Neuilly-Plaisance, just outside the French capital.]]
((SHOTS: CELEBRATIONS /LEFT — AFP))
This was not the outcome most French had expected. Instead of a far-right victory, it was the leftist New Popular Front coalition that scooped up the most seats in the National Assembly...
((SHOTS: SHOTS OF UPSET NATIONAL RALLY SUPPORTERS — AFP))
…a setback for the right wing, anti-immigrant National Rally. After surging ahead in the first round, the National Rally came third in the runoff….
((SHOTS — MACRON/PARTY — AFP))
…behind President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition — which did better than expected, but still lost almost 100 seats and its relative majority in the lower house.
((Gabriel Attal, French Prime Minister, MALE IN FRENCH — AFP))
“So, in keeping with republican tradition and in accordance with my principles, tomorrow morning I will hand in my resignation to the President of the Republic."
[[RADIO VERSION: France’s Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, announced that in keeping with republican tradition and in accordance with his principles, he would hand in his resignation to the president of the republic.]]
((SHOT: MORE CELEBRATIONS — AFP))
Many credit the left-wing’s results to a so-called “Republican Front” by mainstream parties, to keep the far right from winning.
((Gesine Weber, Analyst, German Marshall Fund - FEMALE ENGLISH - SKYPE))
“I think the most likely scenario right now is having the left block — le Nouveau Front Popular (New Popular Front)— and Ensemble, the parties supporting Macron, having a sort of coalition agreement or at least a sort of cooperation agreement.”
((SHOTS: VARIOUS OF MACRON — AFP))
After tilting center-right, the French president and his alliance may now have to tilt left. Macron may have to govern with the political opposition — something he’s never done in his seven years in power.
((SHOTS — MACRON/NATO & ZELENSKY — AFP))
Analysts like Weber say Macron will likely retain control of foreign policy, which supports Ukraine, the European Union, and the transatlantic alliance.
((SHOTS: PROTESTS AGAINST RETIREMENT— AFP))
But a possible alliance with the left could halt or roll back Macron’s domestic agenda, including controversial retirement and other reforms.
((SHOTS: SHOTS OF FAR NEUILLY PLAISANCE — POSTERS, PEOPLE COMING FROM POLLING— VOA ORIGINAL))
France’s political divisions were reflected here in Neuilly-Plaisance, where Sunday’s vote pitted a far-left against a far-right candidate.
((Louise Ragu, Voter - FEMALE IN FRENCH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“I voted for the left. They have the values I believe in.”
(( Radio version: Louise Ragu says she voted for the left. They have the values I believe in, she says.))
((SHOT: YANINA KERKINI TALKING - VOA ORIGINAL))
So did Yanina Kerkini. The daughter of Algerian immigrants, she’s worried about the far right’s appeal.
((Yanina Kerkini, Voter - FEMALE IN FRENCH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“People are saying more of what they really believe. We’re seeing it every day. They don’t remember history. It makes me sad.”
[[RADIO VERSION: She says people are saying more of what they really believe, and she says it’s obvious every day. Kerkini says people don’t remember history and she says that makes her sad.”
((SHOTS: VARIOUS OF NATIONAL RALLY — AFP))
The National Rally is disappointed today, but it still won dozens of new legislative seats, and it remains a major force ahead of French presidential elections, just three years away.
((Lisa Bryant, VOA News, Neuilly-Plaisance, France))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Continuing the trend of left-leaning victories in Europe, we now go to Britain where voters there elected a new government. Keir Starmer’s center-left Labour party recently won a landslide victory securing a majority in Parliament. To see how Britain’s role on the world’s stage may change under Prime Minister Starmer, we go to Henry Ridgwell in London.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: BRITAIN ELECTION RESULT (TV)
HEADLINE: How will Britain’s global role change with new government?
TEASER: Immigration, conflict, defense and geopolitical tensions are major foreign challenges facing the Labour prime minister
PUBLISHED: 7/5/2024 at 6:26p
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Baragona, Tom Turco, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, APTN, Reuters, AFP, Zoom
PLATFORMS: WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:50
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO)) [[Britain has a new government. Keir Starmer’s center-left Labour party won a landslide victory in Thursday’s election with a 412-seat ((**update as needed)) majority in Parliament. How might Britain’s role in the world change under Prime Minister Starmer? Henry Ridgwell has more from London.]]
((NARRATOR))
A new government and a new direction for Britain. Labour leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were cheered by supporters as they arrived Friday at the prime minister’s residence.
Starmer promised to lead a “government of service” on a mission of national renewal.
((Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister))
“From now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest, to defy quietly those who have written our country off.”
((NARRATOR))
The result brings a crushing end to 14 turbulent years of rule under the Conservatives – their worst result in history.
((FOR RADIO: Outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak apologized to his party.))
((Rishi Sunak, Former British Prime Minister))
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”
((NARRATOR))
Britain has had five prime ministers in just the past eight years - a period that saw Britain’s exit from the European Union, the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a financial market crash under Liz Truss, and an inflation crisis.
Immigration remains a major political issue. The Conservative plan to reroute some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing is set to be dropped by Starmer.
((FOR RADIO: Tim Bale is a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.))
((Tim Bale, Queen Mary University of London))
“Labour is going to need to find a solution to the small boats coming across the Channel. It's going to ditch the Rwanda scheme, but it's going to have to come up with other solutions to deal with that particular problem.”
((NARRATOR))
Analysts say Britain is unlikely to see dramatic changes in foreign policy under Prime Minister Starmer.
((FOR RADIO: Again, Tim Bale.))
((Tim Bale, Queen Mary University of London))
“Keir Starmer's Labour government will continue to back Ukraine against Russia very strongly, will try to maintain the special relationship with the United States of America, although that will get a little bit more difficult if President Trump is re-elected.”
((NARRATOR))
Starmer’s first foreign visit will likely be to next week’s NATO summit in Washington.
((FOR RADIO: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he already knew Prime Minister Starmer well.))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General (in English) ))
“I know that he's a strong supporter of NATO, of the transatlantic alliance, and also committed to ensure that the United Kingdom continues to be a strong and very committed NATO ally.”
((NARRATOR))
But there are defense challenges at home.
((FOR RADIO: Anand Menon, a professor of international politics at King’s College London.))
((Anand Menon, King’s College London))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“We keep hearing in this country that our armed forces are stretched to the bone, that they haven’t been invested in enough, that the U.K. military is incapable of defending U.K. territory. So, a new government is going to immediately face the issue of what it wants to do about that. Labour have said they want to take defense spending up to 2.5% of GDP when economic circumstances allow.”
((NARRATOR))
But Labour warned Friday there isn’t a huge amount of money to spend. Any mission of renewal will have to be a long-term project.
((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News, London.))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined his fellow-NATO members in Washington this week. And as Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, after recent years of mistrust, Turkey’s leader hopes to reset relations with Western allies.
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY NATO SUMMIT
HEADLINE: Erdogan aims to patch relations with NATO allies at summit
TEASER: Despite tensions over his closeness to Putin and his stance on Israel, Erdogan goes to Washington hoping to reset ties and boost cooperation
PUBLISHED AT: 07/08/2024 at
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agencies, Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original, Agencies AFP, REUTERS, Turkish Presidency.
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVR
UPDATE: DO NOT USE Berke Bas NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS))
((INTRO)) [[After recent years of mistrust, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends NATO’s summit in Washington on Tuesday, hoping to reset relations with Western allies. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((VIDEO SHOT: NATO SYMBOL FLAGS-REUTERS
SWEDEN NATO-REUTERS
ERDOGAN RUTTE-AFP))
((NARRATOR))
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the three-day NATO Summit in Washington after years of bitter differences with other members of the Western military alliance.
Analysts say Erdogan goes to the Washington meeting on a good footing, having resolved contentious issues that dogged previous NATO summits.
[[RADIO VERSION: Sinan Ulgen is an analyst with the Centre for Economics & Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul think tank.]]
((Sinan Ulgen, Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies – MALE IN ENGLISH))
((Via Zoom))
“At the time, NATO's enlargement to Sweden and Finland was under way, but that's now over. Turkey also backed the new secretary general, the former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. Overall, Turkey is in line with the slate of decisions that will relate to NATO support for Ukraine.”
((VIDEO SHOT: ERDOGAN PUTIN-Mandatory cg. TURKISH PRESIDENCY
SHANGHAI MEETING- Mandatory cg. TURKISH PRESIDENCY
ISTANBUL SHIP PORT-original))
((Mandatory cg. TURKISH PRESIDENCY))
((NARRATOR))
But Erdogan's close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin remain points of tension with NATO allies. His ties with Putin were underscored by last week's face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the China-led Shanghai Security Organization – and Turkey’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.
That relationship will require careful handling by both Washington and Ankara.
[[RADIO VERSION: ...says analyst Ulgen of the Centre for Economics & Foreign Policy Studies.]]
((Sinan Ulgen, Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies – MALE IN ENGLISH))
((Via Zoom))
“There's an understanding that as a country that neighbors Russia that has a number of interdependencies, this is, something unavoidable. However, in return, Turkey is also quite cautious in not crossing the red lines set by the US and by EU in terms of the current Russia sanctions.”
((VIDEO SHOT: NATO FLAGS-Reuters
AFRICA ISTANBUL MEETING-Original
TURKIC SUMMIT-AFP))
((NARRATOR))
The NATO summit in Washington will give Erdogan a chance to meet with President Joe Biden. Analysts suggest that Turkey's growing importance in Africa, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, could be an incentive for the U.S. administration to increase its cooperation with Ankara.
[[RADIO VERSION: Asli Aydintasbas is an analyst with the Brookings Institution in Washington.]]
((Asli Aydintasbas, Brookings Institution - Female in English))
((Via Zoom))
“(The US) Administration and Turkish officials are looking into Africa, where Turkey has ambitions to expand its influence both economically and in security terms. There is a renewed attention on Central Asia and, of course, an effort to see if there could be more in the Balkans when it comes to Turkey and US supporting stability and EU enlargement process.”
((VIDEO SHOT: GAZA-REUTERS
WASHINGTON-REUTERS))
((NARRATOR))
A May meeting in Washington between Erdogan and Biden was cancelled amid differences over Israel’s war in Gaza and analysts say they could again prevent a meeting at the NATO summit.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Here, in the U.S., we are now just four months away from the presidential election, and to put it mildly, political tensions are high. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias spoke with some voters who blame the media for deepening divisions.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
That’s all for now. For all of us at The Inside Story thanks for watching.
For the latest news you can log on to VOA news dot com.
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I'm Katherine Gypson follow me on X at XXX. Also, Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus.
We will see you next week, for The Inside Story.
