Ankara, Turkey – US Secretary of State John Kerry is to fly to Ankara Friday for urgent talks after Turkey refused to allow a US-led coalition to use its air bases to attack jihadists in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.
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Turkey, Washington’s key ally in the region and the only Muslim member of the core 10-nation coalition against the Islamic State, is also refusing to take part in combat operations against the militants, a government official told AFP Thursday.
Kerry will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and its new prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu Friday in the hope of shoring up support for air strikes.
But on the eve of the visit, a Turkish official told AFP, “Turkey will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations.”
“Incirlik will be used only for logistical purposes and humanitarian assistance”, said the source, referring to a southern air base used for NATO operations in Iraq.
The decision echoes Turkey’s refusal to act as a launch pad for the US invasion to oust Saddam Hussein in 2003, which triggered a crisis between the allies.
Turkey — and in particular the former foreign policy chief Davutoglu — has come under fire for indirectly encouraging the formation of the Islamic State because of its support of Islamist opponents of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and its loose control of its borders.
But Ankara vehemently denies its strategy has backfired.
Kerry — who had talks in Saudi Arabia on Thursday — is on a regional tour to drum up support from 10 key Arab nations and Turkey, following President Barack Obama’s announcement of an offensive against Islamic State jihadists that will include air strikes in Syria.
The Turkish foreign ministry confirmed that Kerry would meet all of Turkey’s key decision makers.
“In these meetings, bilateral, regional and global issues on our joint agenda, as well as opportunities for further developing our relations and cooperation will be elaborated on,” it said in a statement.
Erdogan supports all terrorists.
Turkey is showing their true face.
Well then we should call the turkey bird the freedom bird. Are any better then the French?
America show leadership by expelling the rabit Antisemitic dog Erdogan from the NATO alliance lers see what he will do then.
obama’s friend shows his true face. IDIOTS in turkey [a dumb bird] Isis is coming for you too.
Turkey is not as friend/ally of the USA
Turkey should not be privy to any military plans against ISIS.
Turkey refusing the US help is just another nail in Turkey’s coffin!
Mr Kerry – when will you stop “dreaming” that Turkey is an American Ally? Didn’t you see in the Gaza War who’s side he’s on – HE IS AN ALLY OF HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, ISIS, etc etc.
He just likes American $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ which the Americans should stop sending