Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US

Source – The Hindu

Syllabus – GS 2 –  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Synopsis – US president officially recognized the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915-16 as an act of genocide.

Introduction-

• On April 24, 2021, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, US President Joe Biden referred to the events as genocide.
• The US president’s acknowledgment would exacerbate the already deteriorating relationship between the US and Turkey.

History of Armenian Genocide-

• After First world-war defeat, the Ottoman Turks blamed the Armenians living on the outskirts of the collapsing empire for the defeat.

• Start of the Armenian Genocide– On 24th April, 1915, Ottoman Turks arrested and executed thousands of Armenian soldiers, public intellectuals. Moreover Armenians were forcefully relocated to Syrian Desert from their homes in eastern Anatolia (modern-day Turkey).
• The total estimated number of Armenians killed during 1914-1916 at over 1.5 million, or nearly 90% of the Armenians who were living in the Ottoman Empire.

What is Turkey’s response to US acknowledgment?

Turkey has admitted that massacres were committed against Armenians, but denies it was genocide and called US president to correct the mistake of recognition as genocide.

• Turkey has claimed that the US does not have a legal basis for its claims and are not backed up by any evidence.

Other Issues in between the US and Turkey-

The US-Turkey relationship has been tensed on a number of issues-

• Over U.S. based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen –
  • Turkey demands that US extradite Gülen, the mastermind behind a failed coup attempt against the Turkish government, according to Turkey.
  • However, the US refused to extradite Gülen due to a lack of evidence linking him to the coup.
• Over S-400 Missile defence –  
  • Despite resistance from the US, Turkey’s decision to purchase the S-400 missile defence system from Russia led American leaders to exclude Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet training programme and place sanctions on their ally.

Way forward-

Turkey should not let affect its relations with the United States and should instead concentrate on its foreign policy.

• Turkey should acknowledge the atrocities and not allow its past to sabotage its current interest.