Turkish experts interpret photo of US envoy aboard warship as ‘threat to Turkey’
https://sputniknews.com/20230205/turkish-experts-interpret-photo-of-us-envoy-aboard-warship-as-threat-to-turkey-1106992815.html
Turkish experts interpret photo of US envoy aboard warship as ‘threat to Turkey’
Turkish experts interpret photo of US envoy aboard warship as ‘threat to Turkey’
Turkish security experts and former military commanders interpreted a recent photo of US Ambassador Jeffry Flake aboard a US destroyer in the Bosphorus Strait as a “threatening message” to Ankara and called the Foreign Ministry of the country to summon the highest diplomat, a Turkish newspaper. reported Sunday.
2023-02-05T16:17+0000
2023-02-05T16:17+0000
2023-02-05T16:17+0000
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The USS Nitze, an American destroyer that also took part in the Yemeni civil war, dropped anchor off the coast of Istanbul near Dolmabahce Palace earlier this week ahead of a scheduled stopover at the naval base in Golcuk. On Friday, the US Embassy in Turkey released a photo of Flake and other officials standing on the deck of the warship. Besides the presence of the American ambassador, Turkish experts pointed out that the Turkish flag hoisted on the mast of the destroyer was much smaller than the American banner, calling it a “show of force” of the United States. Retired Lieutenant General and former Turkish intelligence chief Ismail Hakki Pekin argued that the display of disproportionately large flags was a conscious decision. The former official told the newspaper that there was “serious backlash against the United States in Turkey” in light of Washington’s “alleged ties to terrorism.” He also argued that the Turkish Foreign Ministry should summon Flake after the incident. Another expert, retired Colonel Halil Ozsarac, told the newspaper that the size of the American flag hoisted on the warship was a “show of force”. He also said he had never encountered such an “unpleasant” situation before, having visited many ports in his life. Earlier in the week, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom all suspended operations at their consulates in Istanbul over security concerns after a series of protests scorched the Koran in northern Europe. The United States and several other countries have issued travel advisories. On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it was difficult to call countries that had decided to close their consulates in Istanbul allies or friends.
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Turkey
2023
News
en_GB
threat to turkey, us threat to turkey, jeff flake photo
threat to turkey, us threat to turkey, jeff flake photo
ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish security experts and former military commanders have interpreted a recent photo of US Ambassador Jeffry Flake aboard a US destroyer in the Bosphorus Strait as a “threatening message” to Ankara and called on the country’s foreign ministry to convene the diplomat summit, a Turkish newspaper reported on Sunday.
The USS Nitze, an American destroyer that also took part in the Yemeni civil war, dropped anchor off the coast of Istanbul near Dolmabahce Palace earlier this week ahead of a scheduled stopover at the naval base in Golcuk. On Friday, the US Embassy in Turkey released a photo of Flake and other officials standing on the deck of the warship.
Besides the presence of the American ambassador, Turkish experts pointed out that the Turkish flag hoisted on the mast of the destroyer was much smaller than the American banner, calling it a “show of force” by the United States.
Retired Lieutenant General and former Turkish intelligence chief Ismail Hakki Pekin argued that the display of disproportionately large flags was a conscious decision. The former official told the newspaper that there was “serious backlash against the United States in Turkey” in light of Washington’s “alleged ties to terrorism.”
“These reactions continued after several countries closed their consulates in Istanbul [over security concerns]. Just at this point, the American warship came to Dolmabahce and dropped anchor. Of course, such permission is obtained in advance. But the fact that the US ambassador boarded with unbalanced Turkish and US flags behind him and took a photo is clearly a threat to Turkey,” Beijing said.
He also argued that the Turkish Foreign Ministry should summon Flake after the incident.
“The US-appointed ambassador to Turkey is a political figure rather than a diplomat. His appointment to Turkey is also for a specific purpose. This has already been discussed at length. The warnings seem justified,” Beijing said.
Another expert, retired Colonel Halil Ozsarac, told the newspaper that the size of the American flag hoisted on the warship was a “show of force”. He also said he had never encountered such an “unpleasant” situation before, having visited many ports in his life.
On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it was difficult to call countries that had decided to close their consulates in Istanbul allies or friends.
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