Widespread Reaction to US Ambassador’s Statements in Turkey; Calls for Expulsion from Ankara
Controversial statements by Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey, at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum have drawn sharp reactions from a wide range of Turkish politicians, with some calling for him to be declared “persona non grata” and expelled from the country.
At the meeting, Barrack claimed that democracy is not suitable for Middle Eastern countries and that an “absolute monarchy” system is a better option for governing the region. He also emphasized the need for political cooperation between Turkey and the Israeli regime.
Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), condemned the remarks, saying: “In a country whose democratic republic was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, how can one praise despotism?” He called on the Turkish government to expel the US ambassador.
Ekrem İmamoğlu also described Barrack’s statements as a sign of the government’s weakness, saying that the diplomat has been provoking public opinion with repeated gaffes since the beginning of his mission.
Fatih Erbakan, leader of Turkey’s New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi), called the US ambassador’s claims frightening and shameless, stating: “The sky and the earth should tremble at the proposal of cooperation with child-killing Israel.”
Turkish analysts interpret Barrack’s remarks about strong leadership in the Middle East as meaning the failure of democracy, viewing them as reminiscent of a top-down colonial mindset.
In contrast, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has so far adopted a cautious approach toward this diplomatic controversy.
