"The US is an important ally. We have cooperation in almost every field," Çavuşoğlu told the state-run Anadolu Agency. "However, the truth is [that we are having] a 'confidence crisis' with the US."
He accused the US of not supporting Turkey in its Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria where it is combatting “terrorist groups” along its border – naming both ISIS and Kurdish groups, which Turkey considers terrorist organizations.
Turkey and the Free Syrian Army, local forces Ankara is backing in Syria, are currently battling ISIS in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab.
"If you are not supporting us in the most significant operation, then why are you based at the Incirlik Airbase?" he asked, referring to US use of Turkey’s airbase to launch air attacks on ISIS.
Turkey’s Defence Minister Fikri Işik said that questions were raised about the coalition’s use of the Incirlik base in light of the lack of support for Turkey in al-Bab, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
He said it was “thought-provoking” that their NATO allies were not supporting Turkey in northern Syria.
On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook confirmed that coalition planes had carried out flights near al-Bab as a “visible show of force” in support of Turkey when Turkish forces came under fire. The coalition planes did not carry out airstrikes, Cook stressed.
Asked about the coalition’s support for Turkey in al-Bab on Wednesday, coalition spokesperson Col. John Dorrian said that diplomatic discussions had been ongoing for several weeks and he expects “there will be some ongoing support to Turkish operations in and around al-Bab.”
He declined to detail what the support would entail but added that Incirlik was “absolutely invaluable” and the world has been made safer because of the operations conducted out of that location.
Çavuşoğlu accused the US of “preferring terrorist organizations over its ally,” in reference to US support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are the American’s key ally on the ground fighting ISIS in northern Syria.
He also complained that the US has failed to extradite Fetullah Gulen, the US-based cleric Ankara accuses of masterminding the failed July 15 coup, “despite Turkey’s repeated requests.”
