Global Geo-political Series: Tensions between Washington and Ankara escalates over arrest of consulate employee

Tensions escalated between Washington and Ankara over the arrest of Metin Topuz, an employee at the U.S. General Consulate in Istanbul last week. Mr. Topuz is a Turkish citizen, who according to Turkey is an accomplice of the exiled Turkish cleric and a former ally of Turkish President Fetullah Gulen. Mr. Gullen is blamed by Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan for a failed coup attempt last July. The U.S. embassy strongly condemned the arrest and called the claims of Mr. Topuz’s involvement in the coup as baseless and warned that the arrest could undermine the long-term relations between Turkey and the United States.

In addition to the condemnation, the United States suspended all non-immigrant visa services for Turkish citizen, which means that no visas would be issued to Turkish citizen unless they are planning to move to the United States permanently. Just 24 hours after the announcement by the United States, Turkey retaliated through its embassy in Washington, issuing a statement that effectively mirrors the one released by the United States and stopped services for non-immigrant visas.

With some exceptions, the move effectively blocks Turks from travel to the United States, and vice versa, indefinitely.​

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