The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (banned in Russia) terrorist group has seen no changes in their level of cooperation with Turkey amid the current tensions between Washington and Ankara, Maj. Gen. Felix Gedney, CJTF OIR Deputy Commander Strategy and Support told reporters on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (banned in Russia) terrorist group has seen no changes in their level of cooperation with Turkey amid the current tensions between Washington and Ankara, Maj. Gen. Felix Gedney, CJTF OIR Deputy Commander Strategy and Support told reporters on Tuesday.
Weve seen no change in our relationship with our Turkish allies, Gedney said when asked whether the diplomatic spat had led to any changes in military relations within the coalition. Turkey is a very important member of the global coalition of 70 nations There is things going on at the strategically level but here at the operational level and tactical level, weve seen no change in our professional working relationship.
In the latest escalation of the diplomatic row, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced that his country would boycott US electronic goods.
On Friday, Erdogan said that Turkey was in a state of "economic war" after the Turkish lira plummeted as US President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey.
Apart from introducing increased tariffs, Trump's administration also froze the assets of two Turkish ministers who allegedly contributed to human rights abuses in the country.
On Monday, the Turkish president called Washington's decision to increase levies on aluminum and steel exports from Turkey a "stab in the back." Last week, Erdogan said his country would have to move even under the US sanctions and reorient toward new markets, enhancing cooperation as part of new international associations.
The US-led coalition of more than 70 countries is conducting military operations against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. The coalition's operations in Iraq are conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government, but those in Syria are not authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or the United Nations Security Council.
