US-Türkiye ties have been strained in recent times by the US alliance with Syrian Kurds that Türkiye deems terrorists, and over Türkiye’s buy of Russian S-400 defences that prompted US sanctions and removing from a F-35 jet programme.
Nonetheless, Flake stated that he thought US-Türkiye relations are actually “in a greater place than we have been shortly.”
He famous the “helpful function” that Türkiye had performed in what was the most important prisoner change between the US and Russia for the reason that Chilly Battle in Ankara in the beginning of August.
“They weren’t concerned within the negotiation aspect, however on the logistics aspect, they performed a big function,” he stated.
In an interview with Reuters in June, Flake had stated that Türkiye remained firmly anchored within the West and its partnership with the US has by no means been stronger.
However Flake stated on Monday (Aug 12) that the Gaza state of affairs had been “very troublesome”, with President Tayyip Erdogan’s rhetoric in opposition to Israel making it troublesome for Türkiye to play a task as an interlocutor. He stated the divide between Ankara and Washington on Gaza had narrowed after Washington began “actively calling” for a ceasefire, however friction remained.
Individually, Flake stated the US was nonetheless involved about military-linked {hardware} going to Russia from Türkiye, calling on Ankara to step up cooperation to forestall the exports.
“It stays a priority of ours, and we elevate it ceaselessly and constantly,” he stated. “After we speak to our contacts right here, what we’ll stress is that our aim is to make sure that Russia is denied the flexibility to wage warfare.”
“We nonetheless see vital objects coming by way of Türkiye,” he stated. “So we’re in search of higher cooperation there and in some ways we’re getting it. I do know that Russia is complaining, which is an effective signal.”
