US Embassy building in Ankara. Archival photoMOSCOW, May 22. Turkey destroyed transatlantic unity in an attempt to «punish» Russia for launching a special operation in Ukraine, David Phillips, a former State Department adviser during the administrations of three US presidents, wrote in an article for the National Interest magazine. In his opinion, Ankara has become an «unreliable and strange» ally Washington, because it refused to join the multilateral sanctions against Moscow.
"Turkey has destroyed the international consensus, becoming a black sheep among the allies of the United States. <…> President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is playing along with both sides of the conflict in order to expand influence in the region and gain economic benefits,” Phillips believes.
Former State Department adviser noted that Turkey is focused on maintaining economic relations with Russia. An important role for the Turkish side is played by the supply of energy resources, the export of fruits and vegetables, tourism and the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the analyst explained. 400 ground-to-air missiles supplied by Russia. Ankara also refused to send other Soviet-era weapons that could help Ukraine,” the author of the publication reminded. » />The United States called for the exclusion of Turkey from NATO