Published October 10,2023
Subscribe
Speaking to journalists during a press conference with Austrian Chancellor
Karl Nehammer in the capital Ankara on Tuesday, Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lashed out at NATO ally United States for shooting down a Turkish UAV in conflict-hit Syria.
"Consider this: there are over 20
American military bases in Syria. What purpose do these bases serve, and what activities are being conducted within them? We have 23 such bases in the region. Isn't it essential for us to examine this situation closely?
It's noteworthy that while Türkiye utilizes drones, the United States has shot down our
unmanned aerial vehicles. The question arises: isn't
Türkiye currently America's partner within
NATO? How do we reconcile this inconsistency? At times, we're partners when it suits us, yet at other times, we face actions like these.
It's disheartening to witness the
United States simultaneously supporting, training, and arming various groups in the region, some of which are considered
terrorist organizations.
Furthermore, these actions have contributed to the volatile situation in
Syria and the wider
Middle East, turning these regions into arenas of conflict. We must scrutinize these occurrences as well. When our
UAVs are being shot down, can we genuinely claim to be allies? Such a scenario does not align with the concept of a partnership," Turkish leader Erdoğan stressed in his comments regarding the latest political developments.