Erdogan: The Suspension of Visa Issuance by the U.S. is Distressing

The President of Turkey has protested against the suspension of visa issuance at U.S. diplomatic centers in Turkey, calling it 'distressing.' At the same time, reports indicate tensions in Turkey's financial market and a decline in the value of the lira. The U.S. ambassador in Turkey stated that the resumption of visa issuance depends on Ankara's fulfillment of its 'commitments.' On Sunday, October 8, shortly after the news of the arrest of a local employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Washington announced the suspension of non-immigrant visa issuance for Turkish citizens. The arrested employee has been accused of 'espionage.' Hours after the U.S. suspended visa issuance, Turkey took similar action. The following day, it was reported that another employee of the U.S. consulate had been summoned to the Turkish prosecutor's office. According to Turkey's state news agency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, stated on October 9 during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv that 'the embassy's decision to suspend non-immigrant visa issuance is distressing.' Erdogan mentioned that Ankara's reaction was a reciprocal action against this decision. Turkey has stated that the arrested consulate employee had ties to the movement associated with Fethullah Gülen, a cleric critical of Erdogan's government. The Erdogan administration considers Gülen the main instigator of last year's failed coup and describes the movement stemming from his thoughts as a 'terrorist group.' Gülen resides in the United States, and Turkey's efforts to extradite him have been unsuccessful. This cleric has denied any connection between himself and last year's coup in Turkey. Following the suspension of visa issuance, reports indicate that the value of the Turkish lira has fallen, and the stock market has experienced turbulence. Reuters reported that the lira has dropped by 3.4% against the U.S. dollar, and the value of stocks on the Istanbul Stock Exchange has decreased by up to 4.7%. Most notably, the situation of Turkish Airlines has deteriorated, with its stock value dropping by 9% over the past day. The Central Bank of Turkey stated that it is closely monitoring the situation. Bloomberg reported, citing Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, that over 37,000 American citizens traveled to Turkey last year. The number of American tourists is less than 2% of the total, and compared to 2015, when nearly 90,000 Americans visited, it has significantly decreased. This figure may further decline given the current situation. The number of tourists in Turkey has been steadily decreasing since 2014 due to security concerns and warnings about terrorist attacks. John Bass, the U.S. ambassador in Ankara, stated on Monday that the duration of the suspension of visa issuance for Turkish citizens depends on 'the Turkish government's commitment to protecting facilities and the security of personnel' in that country. The U.S. embassy in Turkey stated that the accusations against the consulate employee are 'unfounded' and 'baseless.' Bass emphasized that the suspension of visas does not mean a halt to issuance for Turkish citizens, as those with valid visas can still travel to the U.S., and other citizens can apply for visas outside Turkey. Relations between Ankara and Washington have recently been marked by tensions and criticisms from the leaders of both countries. In addition to the issue of Fethullah Gülen, the two sides have clear disagreements over accusations against security officials associated with Erdogan in the U.S. regarding confrontations with protesters, as well as the case of Reza Zarrab and the indictments issued against several former Turkish government officials.