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US, Turkey Mutually Suspend Visa Services After Consulate Worker Is Detained

Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

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Jacob Bojesson Foreign Correspondent
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The United States and Turkey moved to suspend non-immigrant visa services Sunday after a U.S. mission employee was detained by Turkish authorities.

The U.S. mission in Ankara and the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., released almost identical messages saying they had to “reassess” each other’s security commitments.

“Recent events have forced the United States Government to reassess the commitment of the government of Turkey to the security of U.S. mission facilities and personnel,” the statement from the U.S. mission in Ankara reads. “In order to minimize the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey.”

A U.S. Consulate employee from Turkey was detained for allegedly being linked to cleric Fethullah Gulen, who President Recep Erdogan claims was behind a failed military coup last July. The employee is accused of “attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and constitution.” The U.S. embassy said it was “deeply disturbed” by the arrest.

Turkey has been a key military ally for the U.S. as the gate to the Middle East. The countries have the two largest military forces within the NATO alliance.

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Jacob Bojesson