Turkey, US have differences, Chuck Hagel says

Turkey and the U.S. are good allies but they differ on particular issues, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has told Hürriyet, while commenting on regional issues.

"The U.S. has differences with Turkey in certain areas. But it is important that relationships between the U.S. and Turkey continue to strengthen," he said, at a dinner on June 24 to mark his receiving the Foreign Policy Medal.

The military base in the southern Turkish province of ?ncirlik is a critical one for NATO, he said.

"So we have some differences and continue to have some differences. But Turkey is a friend, an ally. We need to make sure that we do everything we can for Turkey to continue to be so. Leaders come and go. We have differences on where we are," he said.

Turkey has been an "indispensable NATO ally" since the 1950's, the former politician noted. 

"And Turkey's involvement with the West, particularly NATO, is critical. Where Turkey resides, geography, history, religious dimensions of Turkey are also particularly important. [They] always have been, but especially today. Turkey's been through a transition," he said. 

'No need for 100,000 more US troops'

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and himself were the first two politicians who met with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, he recalled. "Biden and I were in the Middle East for a ten day trip, Israel, Syria etc... And when we were in Turkey we spent three hours with Erdo?an," he said. 

He retreated on his former remarks, saying the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) represents a group "we have never seen before" and needs to be defined.

"We can't do it ourselves. There is no need for 100,000 more American troops. Those days are over," he said.