US Secretary of State: Turkey is a long-standing and valued ally

The NATO alliance can emerge stronger after a period of internal divisions and must keep Turkey at the heart of transatlantic ties. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 23, Report informs.

Blinken said that, despite public differences with Ankara, the United States and NATO had a strong interest in keeping Turkey anchored in the alliance.

“Turkey is a long-standing and valued ally,” Blinken said, saying it was also in Ankara’s interest to remain in the alliance.

His remarks came in an address with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the NATO foreign ministers meeting.

Blinken also said NATO has shown its effectiveness in dealing with some disagreement, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, “serving as a vehicle for deconfliction, for de-escalation, for finding a way forward.”

Calling it a “positive step,” the U.S. official said the work on it must go on.