US affirms Türkiye's vital role as 'valuable NATO Ally'

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The State Department on Monday highlighted Türkiye's role as a "valuable NATO ally," saying the US will continue to work with Ankara to strengthen the alliance.

"I would say that Turkey, despite our disagreements on this question, has been a valuable NATO ally," Spokesman Matthew Miller said in response to a question about calls for Türkiye's expulsion from NATO following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks about Hamas.

“We look forward to continuing to work with them to strengthen NATO, and that includes securing Sweden's quick accession to NATO something that we know is now pending in the Turkish parliament,” he added.

“This is not the first issue with which we've disagreed with the leadership of Turkey, but we still find them to be a productive and helpful NATO ally,” Miller said.

Last week, Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, called for NATO to "seriously consider" Türkiye's membership after President Erdogan said Hamas is "not a terrorist organization".

In response to a question on Turkish President Erdogan’s remarks, Miller said: “I think we have been very clear about our assessment that they are in fact a real terrorist organization”.