U.S. and Turkey Resume Visa Service, Easing Diplomatic Break
- Embassies in Ankara and Washington issue statements on visas
- Lira, bonds gain amid signs that U.S.-Turkish ties recovering
A Turkish special police officer stands guard outside the perimeter fence of the U.S. embassy in Ankara.
Source: Bloomberg
The U.S. and Turkey resumed visa services, three months after they were suspended amid an escalating feud between the NATO allies. Turkish assets rallied, pushing the stock market to a record high.
Services were halted following Turkey’s arrest of a local employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, who remains incarcerated on terrorism-related charges. The U.S. said Thursday that visa processing was restored after Turkey assured U.S. authorities that no other local employees were under investigation and that local staffers wouldn’t be detained for doing their jobs. Turkey denied it gave the U.S. any assurances, indicating a continuing breakdown in communication between the two sides.