Biden Nominates Jeff Flake as Ambassador to Turkey

Former Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) knows about toxic relationships better than most from his very public feud with Donald Trump.

However, relations between the United States and Turkey represent a whole different beast. One Flake may find himself at the center of, and soon, now that President Joe Biden has nominated him as the next U.S. ambassador to Turkey. 

NBC News’ Dareh Gregorian and Josh Lederman report on the latest ambassadorial appointment and Flake’s reaction:

“Given the strategic importance of the United States’ relationship with our long-time NATO ally, the Republic of Turkey, I am honored and humbled by the trust President Biden has placed in me with this ambassadorial nomination. This is a pivotal post at an important time for both of our countries,” Flake wrote Tuesday in a post on Medium.

“U.S. foreign policy can and should be bipartisan,” he wrote. “That is my belief as well and my commitment.”

Flake is the second Arizona Republican whom Biden has nominated to a prestigious post. Biden nominated Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, to be the U.S. representative to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Like Flake, Cindy McCain crossed party lines to endorse Biden.

Flake denounced the president’s rhetoric throughout the Trump years, going so far as to accost the commander-in-chief ahead of the 2020 Republican National Convention, saying, “What kind of American leader undermines confidence in the elections in his own country?” 

Flake’s criticisms laser-focused on Trump’s style rather than his policy. The senator’s voting record matched the White House’s official position 81% of the time (not that it matters when loyalty to the former president trumps ideological purity).

Flake retired from the Senate in 2019—with dismal approval ratings—thanks to his no-win war with Trump. The onetime conservative hero later received universal contempt from the GOP base for endorsing Joe Biden for president. Still, the Arizona Republican did serve on both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his two decades in Congress. A necessary experience for forging stronger diplomatic ties with one of America’s erstwhile allies.

U.S.-Turkish relations deteriorated in 2003 after Ankara refused to let Washington use Incirlik Air Base or allow the transportation of U.S. troops across Turkey to strike at Northern Iraq. The bond between the two nations eroded further after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became president. Despite Turkey’s status as a NATO member, Erdoğan brokered a deal to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which NATO cannot integrate with its air defense network.

In December 2020, Trump finally sanctioned a small group of Turks critical to securing the multibillion-dollar deal. Although Trump and Erdoğan had a semi-functional relationship, President Biden’s formal recognition of the Armenian genocide caused tensions to spike again. Biden’s announcement infuriated Erdoğan as his country continues to deny the extermination of up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I.

Before Flake can get to work on Biden’s foreign policy agenda, the Senate must confirm his nomination. It may be a long road to confirmation, but Flake’s nomination alone marks the latest turn in the unorthodox career of a man once considered one of the most conservative members of Congress.

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com

Patrick Houck

Patrick Houck is an avid political aficionado based out of the Washington, D.C. metro area. When not analyzing the latest news, you can find him enjoying the company of family and friends, trying out highly recommended hiking trails, or daydreaming about his next scuba diving trip.