The looming placement by Donald Trump of pro-Israeli and pro-Kurdish politicians in “key positions” of foreign policy is chilling for Ankara. Despite the fact that – Hamas supporter – Recep Tayyip Erdogan hastened to welcome Trump’s big election victory, before the result was made official, the “pendulum” of the new US administration seems to end up in the “camp” of the Israelis.

“Turkey-US relations will be strengthened and regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will end” the Turkish president characteristically stated in a post reminiscent of a wish list.

However, today’s (Wednesday) Turkish press reports show a bumpy landing in reality, while it is pointed out that Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz are in favor of the Americans staying in Syria and supporting the PKK.

“The staunch defender of the massacre in Gaza”

“The adamant defender of the massacre in Gaza may be the new Secretary of State of the United States” characteristically reports the newspaper Yeni Safak about Marco Rubioas reported by SKAI’s Istanbul correspondent Manolis Kostidis.

“Marco Rubio, who has openly supported Israel’s slaughter of Gaza, is among the candidates. The statements of Marco Rubio, who is expected to be the new US Secretary of State, trying to erase the slaughter of Israel, have become a hot topic again” it is characteristically mentioned in a publication entitled “The adamant defender of the massacre in Gaza may be the new US Secretary of State”.

For its part, Hurriyet comments that “US President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for Secretary of State and National Security Advisor have been revealed. While Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (53) is a near-certainty for the (Secretary of) State job, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (50) is the National Security Advisor. On the other hand, Trump also nominated former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as the new US ambassador to Israel.”

“Rubio is against withdrawing from Syria”

“The future US Secretary of State is also against leaving Syria. In 2019, Rubio said: “The decision to abandon our Kurdish allies and withdraw American troops from northern Syria is a serious mistake that will have serious consequences beyond Syria,” adding that (then) 45th President of the USA Trump should reconsider his decision to leave…”.

“Supporter of the PKK”

“Waltz, who was appointed to the post of National Security Adviser, one of the most influential positions in the security policies and international relations of American presidents, served in the US military for 27 years, including a stint in Afghanistan, and was Special Forces as a “Green Beret”. Waltz was one of the biggest supporters of the YPG/PKK during his time as a member of Congress. Waltz, who said of the YPG/PKK, “After Israel, they are our best ally in the Middle East,” is also strongly opposed to a US withdrawal from Syria. A future US national security adviser believes withdrawing from Syria would be a “strategic mistake.”

“He wanted sanctions on Turkey”

The 50-year-old lawmaker also claimed that the Turkish military invaded Syria after Turkey’s 2019 cross-border operation against Syria and called for sanctions against Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, cabinet members and defense industry sales. Waltz also called for YPG/PKK terrorists, who are “fighting side by side” with America, to be able to enter the United States with special visas.

“God’s Chosen People”

Continuing the barrage of announcements, the US president-elect also announced that he is appointing Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth (pictured with Trump) to be secretary of defense and former director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Hegseth, 44, co-hosts Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and developed a friendship with Trump, who appeared regularly on the show. Hegseth has been a supporter of Israel covering events in the Middle East since the October 7 massacre, including interviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“This is not some mystical land that can be set aside,” Hegseth said in a 2016 interview with the Jewish Press when asked about seeing biblical and historical sites in Israel. “It is the story of God’s chosen people. This story did not end in 1776 or 1948 or with the founding of the UN. All of these things still resonate and matter today.”

“Huckabee loves Israel…”

Trump announced that he has chosen former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and his longtime friend Steven Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East.

In a statement, the president-elect said that Huckabee “loves Israel and its people, and the people of Israel love him.” “Mike will work tirelessly to achieve peace in the Middle East!” Trump pointed out.

Huckabee, who served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, was a two-time Republican presidential candidate.

He is the father of Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, the current governor of the state and former Trump White House press secretary.

Huckabee openly supports settlement in Israel. In 2018, he even declared that he dreamed of “building a summer house (in the Israeli-occupied) West Bank.”