US Ambassador to Türkiye Jeff Flake mentioned Wednesday that Washington welcomes Ankara’s position in efforts to succeed in a cease-fire deal in Gaza.
“We welcome Türkiye’s role specifically. We want an enduring peace afterwards. It’s going to be a two-state solution,” Flake informed reporters on the US Embassy within the capital.
Stressing that they “encourage Israel in every discussion to limit civilian casualties as they respond to Hamas’s attacks,” he famous that they’re working with Türkiye and different nations to attain a cease-fire within the Gaza Strip.
“Türkiye can talk to groups that we simply can’t,” he famous.
Flake additionally welcomed the go to to Türkiye by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who can be due handle the Turkish parliament on Thursday.
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since an assault final October by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Nearly 40,000 folks have since been killed, principally ladies and youngsters, and over 92,000 others injured, based on native well being authorities.
Expressing hope for de-escalation, Flake mentioned the US is looking on everybody who has relations with Iran to make efforts to scale back tensions. He additionally famous that Ankara is extra skilled in relations with Tehran as a result of it’s a neighbor.
– US army buildup in area
Flake mentioned that when the US sees an escalation in a area that might have an effect on its allies and companions, it sends army property there and infrequently manages to de-escalate tensions.
He added that there have been some army build-ups in Greece in help of Ukraine and denied allegations that the US is favoring Greece over Türkiye and constructing as much as assault Türkiye.
– Türkiye-led prisoner swap operation
Regarding a latest prisoner swap operation led by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Flake mentioned: “This is a very complex swap, and Türkiye has a very professional bureaucracy,” stressing Türkiye’s “extremely helpful” position when it comes to logistics.
On Aug. 1, the MIT led a profitable prisoner alternate involving seven nations in “one of the most extensive” swap operations in recent times.
A complete of 26 people from prisons within the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus have been exchanged and transported to Ankara.
– Türkiye-US relations
Noting that the twenty sixth NATO Summit will probably be held in Türkiye, Flake mentioned “Türkiye is an indispensable valued member of NATO.”
He highlighted that the mutual commerce quantity exceeded $30 billion and so they intention to extend it to $100 billion within the coming years.
Flake underlined that regardless of who involves energy in January 2025 after the US presidential election in November, there will probably be no main swings in US-Türkiye relations.
– Talks between Somalia, Ethiopia underneath Türkiye’s mediation
On the Ankara Process between Somalia and Ethiopia underneath Türkiye’s mediation, Flake mentioned: “With regard to Somalia, we see Türkiye is involved there, and it’s very positive.”
He mentioned this subject got here up throughout a telephone name Monday between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The ambassador additionally identified that Türkiye’s involvement in Africa is totally different from that of different nations with a colonial previous.
– Congressional approvals for F-16 fighter jets
On the sale of F-16 fighter jets and F-35 points between Ankara and Washington, Flake confirmed that the mandatory Congressional approvals for the F-16 sale have been obtained.
On the F-35 subject, he mentioned the “decision whether Türkiye ends up back in the F-35 consortium is very much a decision that not just the US makes, but the other consortium members (as well).”
On Jan. 26, the US State Department authorised the $23 billion sale of F-16 plane and modernization kits to Türkiye after getting the greenlight for Sweden’s NATO membership from Türkiye-itself a NATO member for over 70 years.
Türkiye in October 2021 requested from the US 40 new F-16 Block 70 plane in addition to 79 modernization kits to improve its remaining F-16s to Block 70 degree.
Türkiye additionally obtained a draft supply and letter of acceptance from the US on the procurement of the brand new jets in February, based on the Turkish National Defense Ministry.
Türkiye was a part of the F-35 program earlier than its participation was suspended over a dispute over Ankara shopping for Russia’s S-400 air protection system after its efforts to purchase US Patriot missiles have been rebuffed.
Flake added that Türkiye’s return to the F-35 consortium requires the decision of the S-400 subject.
– Russia-Ukraine battle
Recalling Türkiye’s invoking of the Montreux Convention when the Russia-Ukraine battle erupted, Flake underscored that this “has been a significant benefit to Ukraine and their defense” by denying Russia “the ability to resupply and to put additional assets in the Black Sea.”
The 1936 Montreux Convention regulates the passage of ships by the Turkish Straits. The conference offers Türkiye the authority to limit the passage of naval vessels by the Turkish Straits throughout instances of battle.
Regarding a press release by an official from the US Treasury Department that there will probably be penalties if Ankara continues to commerce with Moscow, notably in supplies resembling microchips, Flake mentioned they perceive Türkiye’s stance on not making use of the unilateral sanctions of the US and its European allies in opposition to Russia.
He added, nonetheless, that they wish to be sure that the components that can be utilized by Russia’s “war machine” don’t improve.
*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul
Kaynak: AA_ING
Source: www.anews.com.tr