Well, the awkward silence is over. The Obama administration said that they’re going to support Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his government. The president spoke with Secretary of State John Kerry over the phone about the unfolding situation. President Obama said that all parties in Turkey should support the Erdogan administration:
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The President spoke tonight by phone with Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the events in Turkey. The President and Secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically-elected Government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed. The Secretary underscored that the State Department will continue to focus on the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Turkey. The President asked the Secretary to continue to keep him updated as the situation unfolds.
It took a little over three hours into the coup for the Obama administration to issue this statement, which was somewhat out of character—given that Turkey has an elected government and a member of NATO. At the same time, the NATO alliance was established to provide a defense from foreign threats, not settle internal strife.
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