Turkey calls for 'common sense' amid post-election unrest in US

The Turkish government called for “moderation” in regard to the unrest in the US Capitol on Wednesday. Turkey is the first Middle Eastern state to comment on the political conflict occurring in the United States.

“Turkey invites all parties in US to use moderation, common sense to overcome this domestic political crisis,” read a brief statement reported by the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency.

On Wednesday, thousands of supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol where Congress is located,  clashing with police and forcibly entering the building.

Congress was in the process of certifying the November 2020 election results, which indicated a victory for former Vice President Joe Biden, at the time.

The Turkish government’s comments on the chaos in the United States came at a low point in US-Turkey relations. In December, the Trump administration placed sanctions on Ankara over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government frequently receives criticism from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. The criticism focuses on Turkey’s actions in northeast Syria as well as human rights issues within Turkey.

Anadolu’s coverage of the situation in Washington was critical. “The grim scenes are an unprecedented stain on the US's peaceful transfer of power,” read an article from the news outlet.

The speaker of the Turkish parliament also chimed in with a similar message. "We follow the events in the USA with concern and invite the parties to calmness," Mustafa Sentop tweeted. "As Turkey, we have always been in favor of the law and democracy and we recommend it to everyone."

Other states in the region have not commented on what happened.