VP VISITS TURKEY WEDNESDAY TO IMPROVE TENUOUS ALLIANCE

In a sign of strains between the U. S. and Turkey, President Erdogan plans to visit Iran, possibly to forge new ties.

Vice President Biden becomes the highest- ranking U. S. official to meet with Turkey’s leaders Wednesday since the coup attempt in July that has driven a wedge in U. S. relations with a key NATO ally.

Biden is likely to express U. S. concerns about Turkey’s crackdown on free speech and political opponents, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will probably repeat demands that the United States extradite a Muslim cleric living in Pennsylvania who Erdogan claims masterminded the failed military coup. Fethullah Gulen, 75, has denied any involvement with the coup attempt July 15.

State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner announced Tuesday that Turkey formally submitted an extradition request for the cleric. Toner said the request doesn’t relate to the recent coup attempt, but he declined to provide details.

“We are considering the merits of the request,” Toner said.

In Ankara, Biden will emphasize Washington’s “ongoing strong support” of Turkey, the White House said this week. He will meet with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

In a sign of strains between the two countries, Turkish news media reported that Erdogan plans to visit Iran on Wednesday, possibly to forge new ties. The trip follows Erdogan’s visit to Moscow this month to improve relations.

“Clearly, President Erdogan is sending a message by getting closer to Russia and Iran that he’s unhappy with the attitude of the West,” said Bulent Aliriza, a Turkey analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Turkey’s still going to remain a NATO member and aspire for EU membership, but the atmosphere is worse” than before the coup.

After the failed coup, the Turkish government fired or imprisoned tens of thousands of people in the military, academia, judiciary and media.

President Obama condemned the coup attempt but urged Erdogan to protect individual rights amid efforts to uncover those responsible.

Turkey has played a key role in the U. S.- led coalition’s efforts to defeat the Islamic State. The country’s fragile security was shown Saturday when a suicide bomber killed at least 54 people at a wedding celebration.