Turkey, US keep finding ways to vex each other
Amid allegations and at least one arrest, a series of retaliatory moves between Turkey and the United States affected Turkey's currency and raised concern about the countries' relations.
A diplomatic row between Turkey and the United States continued to escalate Oct. 9, with Turkish authorities seeking a second US Consulate worker on terrorism charges. According to media reports, the suspect was refusing to leave the consulate Monday afternoon, and authorities were questioning his wife and son. Another consulate employee, Metin Topuz, was arrested last week.
Meanwhile, news of the discord between Turkey and the United States sent the Turkish lira plunging more than 6% Oct. 8 against the US dollar, although it regained much of the loss the following day. This followed the US Embassy's Oct. 8 announcement that said, “Effective immediately, we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services,” and Turkey's in-kind response. It is crucial to note that the first sentence of the statement expressed concerns the US government has about Turkey's commitment to the security of American personnel. This is a strong reprimand that indicates the growing lack of trust among the two longtime NATO allies.
The tit-for-tat exchange began Sept. 25 when Topuz, a Turkish national employed at the US Consulate, was taken into custody and accused of espionage and attempts to destroy Turkish constitutional order and the government. Authorities allege that he is linked to the Gulen movement, which Turkey blames for a coup attempt in July 2016. The United States has denied Turkey's demands for the extradition of the movement's leader, Fethullah Gulen, from his home in Pennsylvania.
Topuz was officially charged Oct. 4. On Oct. 5, the US Embassy in Ankara released a statement saying that officials were “deeply disturbed” about the arrest. It said Turkey was “trying the employee in the media rather than in a court of law” and using “leaks from Turkish government sources.” This detailed media coverage made the possibility of a fair trial impossible, the statement said.
