An important NATO member state accuses allies of engaging in
An important NATO member state accuses allies of engaging in "psychological warfare."
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USA: Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has claimed that several of its NATO allies are waging a hostile campaign against Ankara. His comments came shortly after the US warned residents there about the possibility of "imminent" terrorist attacks.

Speaking on Thursday, Soylu said: "The day we announced our goal of bringing 60 million tourists annually, they started a psychological war against Turkey.

Additionally the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and several other countries announced their decision to temporarily close their respective consulates in Istanbul due to the terrorist threat.

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The US embassy in Turkey warned its citizens last Friday about a "possible imminent retaliatory attack by terrorists" who were targeting places of worship there.

The message claimed that "the increased security risk was brought about by concerns of extremist retaliation in the wake of recent Quran burning incidents in Europe."

Shortly afterwards, the consulates of the Netherlands, Britain, Belgium, Germany and France in Istanbul announced their temporary closure due to security concerns.

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In addition, Soylu criticized the US for continuing to support the YPG militia, which Ankara believes is responsible for a deadly terrorist attack in Istanbul last November.

The Turkish minister questioned, "Don't we know that you are working with those behind the attack on Istiklal Avenue?" He continued by saying that if Turkey had behaved in this way it would have already been known as a terrorist state.

Relations between Ankara and the West have deteriorated recently, following a Quran-burning stunt by Danish-Swedish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan late last month. Swedish authorities did not end the protest at the time, citing freedom of expression, but later condemned the controversial demonstration outside the Turkish consulate in Stockholm.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear after the protest that Ankara would oppose Sweden's application to join NATO. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland submitted applications to join the US-led military coalition in May.

Since then, the accession process has been essentially suspended as all NATO member states must agree to admit new countries.

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Türkiye demanded that Sweden and Finland stop supporting organizations that Ankara has labeled terrorists, extradite individuals suspected of supporting terrorism, and as conditions for the two countries to join the bloc has lifted its arms embargo.

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