Tensions rise between NATO allies Turkey, Netherlands – MarketWatch

BRUSSELS A war of words between Turkey and the Netherlands escalated over the weekend, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies ahead of critical polls in both countries.

The feud between Turkey and the Netherlands, which had been brewing for days, boiled over Saturday night, when Dutch authorities deported a Turkish minister from Rotterdam as she attempted to hold an unauthorized political rally.

Turkish reaction was swift: Government officials accused officials in the Netherlands of being fascists and Nazis. They said the Dutch ambassador to Turkey, who is currently abroad on leave, wasnt welcome back for a while, and threatened diplomatic, political and economic retaliation unless the Netherlands apologized for the incident.

Turkey is a partner. We are interested in normalizing relations but we cant be bullied, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Ruttes spokesman, Tim Versnel, said in an interview. The Netherlands would never meet Turkeys demand for an official apology, he added. The spat with Turkey, on which European countries depend to curb refugee flows from the Syrian war, comes ahead of Wednesdays Dutch elections and elections in France and Germany. In all three countries, nationalist politicians have been benefiting from anti-immigrant sentiment.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

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Tensions rise between NATO allies Turkey, Netherlands - MarketWatch