America’s ambassador in Ankara suggested some Turkish officials might be trying to “disrupt” co-operation between the two countries after the arrest of a US embassy employee prompted a tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute.
In a video statement released by the State Department on Monday, John Bass, the US ambassador to Turkey, said the American authorities had been unable to determine why the employee had been arrested and what, if any, evidence exists against him. Mr Bass added that he did not know whether to expect further arrests of Turkish staff members.
“This arrest has raised questions about whether the goal of some officials is to disrupt the longstanding cooperation between Turkey and the United States,” Mr Bass said. “If true this would put the people who work with, and work at, and visit our diplomatic facilities at risk.”