Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Heads to the U.S. for Diplomatic Talks

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated on Tuesday, August 7, that the new Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey will lead a delegation to the United States to negotiate regarding the diplomatic disputes between Ankara and Washington. Tensions in U.S.-Turkey relations have escalated in recent weeks, and on Monday, following the U.S. government's announcement that it would review the tariff exemptions granted to Turkey, the value of the Turkish lira sharply decreased against the dollar. The two countries have disagreements over issues such as Syria, Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric residing in the U.S., and the trial of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor imprisoned in Turkey. According to Reuters, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated that Sadat Unal, the Deputy Foreign Minister, will head this delegation. However, the U.S. embassy in Ankara announced on Tuesday that despite the existing tensions, Turkey remains a serious ally of the United States. On Sunday, a U.S. trade representative announced that it is reviewing Turkey's tariff-free access to the U.S. market, raising concerns about the impact of such a move on approximately $1.7 billion of Turkish exports. The Turkish lira, which has lost 27% of its value since the beginning of the year, fell by 5.5% on Monday to a rate of 5.425 lira against one dollar, marking its lowest rate in the past 10 years. Nevertheless, CNN Turk reported on Tuesday that Ankara and Washington have reached preliminary agreements to resolve some issues, although the news outlet did not provide further details. In recent weeks, the trial of Andrew Brunson, a 50-year-old American pastor, has intensified tensions between the two countries. The U.S. has called Brunson's trial unfair and stated that the continuation of his detention is unacceptable. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Abdulhamit Gul, the Turkish Minister of Justice, and Suleyman Soylu, the Turkish Minister of Interior, for their roles in Brunson's detention. The Turkish Foreign Ministry described Washington's decision as 'hostile' and stated that it would retaliate. Andrew Brunson was arrested following the failed coup attempt in 2016 on charges of 'espionage' and 'terrorism' related to the Gülen network and Kurdish militant groups. The Turkish government, which accuses Gülen of leading the failed coup attempt in 2016, has repeatedly asked the U.S. to extradite him. Gülen has denied the allegations, and U.S. officials have stated that Brunson's extradition requires the provision of documented evidence to their judicial authorities.