US Secretary of State & Turkey Foreign Minister exchange heated accusations at NATO meet

Brussels: It has been revealed that there was a major showdown between the United States and Turkey during the NATO meeting held on Tuesday. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, attacked Turkey over the issues of Turkish activities in the Mediterranean Sea and S-400. Although the Turkish Foreign Minister replied to the criticism, France, Greece and other countries strongly castigated Turkey, following the United States. Therefore, there are indications that Turkey, who was consistently adopting aggressive and adamant stance during the NATO meetings, has been isolated. A virtual conference of the Foreign Ministers of the NATO countries was held in Brussels.

During the meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo targeted Turkey. Pompeo fired a salvo of criticism at Turkey in aggressive words, ‘Turkey is going against the values of NATO and even creating obstacles in the NATO campaigns. This Turkish behaviour is rocking the mutual understanding between the NATO members. Turkey is carrying out inciting activities in Libya, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. The framework regarding the Mediterranean Sea agreed between Greece and Turkey, has failed only because of Turkey.’

At this time, the US Secretary of State lashed out at Turkey even on the issue of the S-400 system. Pompeo retorted that Turkey buying and installing the S-400 system should be considered as a special gift from a NATO country to Russia. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tried replying the verbal onslaught launched by the US Secretary of State. Cavusoglu accused that the United States is inciting the European countries by standing behind Greece. He pointed out that the United States also supported terrorist organisations in Syria. At the same time, Cavusoglu also accused that the reason for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict flaring up was the support given by countries like France and the United States to Armenia. Greece and France aptly replied to the Turkish statements.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian criticised that the Turkish activities in the Mediterranean Sea are an effort by this country to repeat the aggressive interference policies of Russia. Greece also criticised Turkey, saying that the Greek stand was within the framework of international regulations. Turkey forwarded a proposal during the meeting for a contribution by NATO to stop the conflict in Libya. But the other members dismissed the proposal saying that the dispute has been kept festering due to the Turkish activities. Therefore, the picture became clear with criticism coming from the United States, France and Greece and the dismissal of the Libya proposal that Turkey is being isolated in NATO.

The European countries have sternly warned Turkey over the activities in the Mediterranean Sea and its interference in Libya, Syria and other countries. Whereas, the United States has warned Turkey to be prepared for consequences of the purchase of S-400 and closeness with Iran. But Turkey has not stopped its activities despite these warnings. Severe repercussions of this are being felt on the international level, and isolation of Turkey is the indication of the same.