Pompeo's allegations ‘exaggeration, disinformation’: Çavuşoğlu

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's allegations about Türkiye in his book are "false information, exaggeration, double standards and disinformation," Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Jan. 26.

"I think, my former colleague wrote this book to launch the campaign for the presidential candidacy. There is false information. I'm saying it diplomatically, you can call it a 'lie,' there is an exaggeration, there is a double standard," Çavuşoğlu said using the Arabic acronym of the ISIL at a press conference with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

Pompeo, who served as U.S. secretary of state between 2018-2021 during the term of former President Donald Trump, tells his memories in his book "Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love." Pompeo alleged that the Turkish army did not have the capacity to fight ISIL.

"It is a sorry state to say in the book that the Turkish army does not have the capacity to defeat Daesh," he said reminding that the U.S. engagement with the PKK/YPG did not start during the term of Trump, but began in the period of former U.S. President Barack Obama. "So, it is not their decision," he added.

"The only army fighting close combat against Daesh was the Turkish army. While [we were] clearing the north of Syria from Daesh, the U.S. sent YPG and Daesh members to Afghanistan by planes and buses during the term of Pompeo. They are responsible for the attacks in Afghanistan," the minister stated.

The U.S.' "support of terrorism so far" is a crime, he said, adding, "I believe there is significant disinformation in order not to be subject to legal procedures."

The Turkish military was the sole NATO army to fight the ISIL on the field eliminating 4,500 ISIL...