Turkish Prime Minister: We Will Respond Firmly to the Netherlands

Amid escalating tensions between Ankara and The Hague, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced on Sunday, March 13, that Turkey will give a "firm response" to the Netherlands. The tensions heightened when the Netherlands prevented the landing of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's plane on Saturday. He intended to attend a campaign rally for the Turkish community in Rotterdam. Dutch authorities also stopped Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, Turkey's Family Minister, in front of the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam and escorted her out of the Netherlands. According to the German news agency, the Turkish Prime Minister stated, "Our so-called European friends, who speak of democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights at every opportunity, have once again failed the test in recent events." He added that such incidents help us recognize our "true friends." After the Turkish Foreign Minister's plane was denied landing, the Family Minister made her way to Rotterdam by land. Mevlut Cavusoglu was supposed to speak at a gathering of Turkish citizens residing in the Netherlands in favor of constitutional changes that would grant extensive powers to the President. A referendum on the constitutional changes is scheduled for April 16. Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced on Sunday that Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya had been informed earlier that she did not have permission to participate in the election campaign at the Turkish consulate. Hundreds of supporters of the Turkish government protested in front of the consulate in Rotterdam on Saturday. In Berlin, about 300 people gathered in front of the Dutch embassy with Turkish flags on Saturday night. The Dutch Prime Minister stated that the presence of the Turkish Foreign Minister at the Rotterdam rally posed a "security risk" and that Mevlut Cavusoglu's reaction made it "impossible to find a reasonable solution." The Turkish Foreign Minister said at Istanbul Airport that the Netherlands fears that the Turkish people will vote "yes" for the constitutional changes, as that would make Turkey "stronger and more independent." Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to the Dutch government as "remnants of the Nazis" and stated that Turkey would retaliate. He added, "From now on, we will see how your planes come to Turkey." Meanwhile, the Dutch embassy and consulate in Ankara and Istanbul are currently closed "for security reasons." In this regard, the Dutch Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that the responsibility for the safety of its diplomats in Turkey lies with the Turkish government.