The statements of the US Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum about the monarchy in the Middle East provoked a sharp reaction from the Turkish opposition, which accused him of unacceptable statements and demanded that he be declared persona non grata, the Aydınlık newspaper writes.
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The reason for the ambassador’s criticism was his words about the effectiveness of monarchies as a strong governing force in the Middle East.
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“After his speech, harsh criticism was leveled at the ambassador, including calls to ‘expel him from the country,'” the newspaper notes.
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According to the newspaper, his statements also touched upon a broader review of the US foreign policy approach. Barrack noted Washington’s shifting focus and the need for the countries of the region to solve their problems on their own.
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In addition, the diplomat pointed out the impossibility of forcibly eliminating structures such as Hezbollah, stressing that sustainable solutions lie in the plane of development and economic growth.
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Earlier, Barrack was criticized for forecasts about possible cooperation between Turkey and Israel in the energy sector, which were considered politically incorrect in Ankara. In diplomatic practice, an episode with his “colonial” behavior at a meeting with the Turkish military was also discussed, as well as ambiguous public gestures and communication style, which regularly became the subject of discussions. In general, experts in Turkey note that Barrack often provokes criticism due to harsh assessments and a departure from traditional diplomatic rhetoric.
