Pompeo rebukes Turkey at NATO meeting

[dukkha]

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of a Russian weapons system was "a gift" to Moscow, according to five diplomats and officials.

At the confidential foreign ministers' video conference on Tuesday, Pompeo said Turkey was undermining NATO's security and creating instability in the eastern Mediterranean in a dispute with Greece and non-NATO member Cyprus over gas resources, said the diplomats and officials, who asked not to be named as the discussions were confidential.

While the U.S. and other NATO allies have long been odds over Turkey's military intervention in Syria and Libya, Pompeo's remarks underscored the depth of tensions at the Western alliance that many experts say dangerously weakens it.

Pompeo, who leaves office in January as U.S. President Donald Trump's term ends, also told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that Turkey was wrong to send paid Syrian fighters to Libya, as the U.S. Defense Department concluded in a report in July, and also to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

That prompted further chiding of Turkey by allies in the meeting, including France, Greece and even tiny Luxembourg, as well as defiant counter-accusations from Cavusoglu, said the diplomats.

The meeting tone was described as "measured" but "more confrontational" than is usually the case at NATO.

The unity of NATO "was not possible if an ally copied Russian actions", a diplomat cited French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as saying in his intervention, referring to Moscow's fuelling of proxy wars by sending in mercenaries.

A U.S. official, speaking on background, said there had been a "frank, closed door discussion" but declined to give details.

"The United States has urged Turkey on multiple occasions to resolve the S-400 (Russian weapons system) issue, cease using Syrian fighters in foreign conflicts, and cease provocative actions in the Eastern Mediterranean," the official said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/parting-s...135152721.html

[dukkha]

The one good thing about Trump coming back in 2024 is getting rid of Pompeo now.

He's a Russiaphobic cold warriors who routinely uses sanctions instead of negotiations with states he wants to push
He's bad news

Turkey's Cavusoglu said on Thursday he could not comment on a confidential meeting.

"I just outlined the differences between the two countries and outstanding issues, he told a public event.
We had to purchase (a weapons system) from Russia because we could not from our allies,
he added.

[Jack]

I thought Trump had his head way up Erdogan's ass?

[BidenPresident]

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of a Russian weapons system was "a gift" to Moscow, according to five diplomats and officials.

At the confidential foreign ministers' video conference on Tuesday, Pompeo said Turkey was undermining NATO's security and creating instability in the eastern Mediterranean in a dispute with Greece and non-NATO member Cyprus over gas resources, said the diplomats and officials, who asked not to be named as the discussions were confidential.

While the U.S. and other NATO allies have long been odds over Turkey's military intervention in Syria and Libya, Pompeo's remarks underscored the depth of tensions at the Western alliance that many experts say dangerously weakens it.

Pompeo, who leaves office in January as U.S. President Donald Trump's term ends, also told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that Turkey was wrong to send paid Syrian fighters to Libya, as the U.S. Defense Department concluded in a report in July, and also to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

That prompted further chiding of Turkey by allies in the meeting, including France, Greece and even tiny Luxembourg, as well as defiant counter-accusations from Cavusoglu, said the diplomats.

The meeting tone was described as "measured" but "more confrontational" than is usually the case at NATO.

The unity of NATO "was not possible if an ally copied Russian actions", a diplomat cited French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as saying in his intervention, referring to Moscow's fuelling of proxy wars by sending in mercenaries.

A U.S. official, speaking on background, said there had been a "frank, closed door discussion" but declined to give details.

"The United States has urged Turkey on multiple occasions to resolve the S-400 (Russian weapons system) issue, cease using Syrian fighters in foreign conflicts, and cease provocative actions in the Eastern Mediterranean," the official said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/parting-s...135152721.html

Too late. Trump always praises Erdogan.

[Micawber]

Turkey has always had about one foot in the NATO alliance.

[Micawber]

I thought Trump had his head way up Erdogan's ass?

It doesn't matter. This administration has no clout around the globe. Everyone is just waiting for this headless
horseman of a country to grow a head. That happens on Jan 20 2021.

[Phantasmal]

Too late. Trump always praises Erdogan.

Yes, he’s hoping to build more luxury hotels there. He sucked up to a lot of dictators for that reason.

[Micawber]

Yes, he’s hoping to build more luxury hotels there. He sucked up to a lot of dictators for that reason.

But he's an off brand now. "We'll leave the light on for ya!"

[Hoosier Daddy]

I thought Trump had his head way up Erdogan's ass?

he does!! along with keeping his head up putin's ass, little kim's ass, the murdering saudi prince's ass and duterte, the filipino homicidal dictator's ass. when erdogan asked trump to remove US troops from where the Kurds in Syria had relocated, he threw them under the bus so they could be slaughtered. after they did most of the fighting and dying to rid Iraq of ISIS that trump tried to take credit for.

[Phantasmal]

But he's an off brand now. "We'll leave the light on for ya!"

Yes, it will be interesting to see how many of them ignore him now that he is of no use. I also wonder who will loan him money now that Kennedy and Deutsche Bank are cutting ties and trying to sell his loans.

[Bigdog]

The one good thing about Trump coming back in 2024 is getting rid of Pompeo now.

He's a Russiaphobic cold warriors who routinely uses sanctions instead of negotiations with states he wants to push
He's bad news

I agree with Pompeo. You need to stop fearing the Russians, my friend.

[Hawkeye10]

The Empire Smiles.

[Jack]

he does!! along with keeping his head up putin's ass, little kim's ass, the murdering saudi prince's ass and duterte, the filipino homicidal dictator's ass. when erdogan asked trump to remove US troops from where the Kurds in Syria had relocated, he threw them under the bus so they could be slaughtered. after they did most of the fighting and dying to rid Iraq of ISIS that trump tried to take credit for.

Yeah. I couldn't agree more about the Kurds being stabbed in the back.

[Hawkeye10]

I agree with Pompeo. You need to stop fearing the Russians, my friend.

For Washington to be taken seriously there must be some consistency.

[Bigdog]

he does!! along with keeping his head up putin's ass, little kim's ass, the murdering saudi prince's ass and duterte, the filipino homicidal dictator's ass. when erdogan asked trump to remove US troops from where the Kurds in Syria had relocated, he threw them under the bus so they could be slaughtered. after they did most of the fighting and dying to rid Iraq of ISIS that trump tried to take credit for.

"The U.N. is not for the faint of heart. It’s a place where dictators, murderers, and thieves denounce America, and then put their hands out and demand that we pay their bills."

- Nikki Haley

Will you condemn the U.N.?