WASHINGTON – The United States continues to encourage its allies in NATO, including Greece and Turkey, to work together in order to preserve peace and security in the region and to resolve their differences in a diplomatic manner, while avoiding rhetoric that stokes greater tension, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The spokesperson had been asked for a comment on the recent statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and how the US might respond if Turkey attacked Greece.

Noting the recent visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Washington, the spokesperson said that the U.S. government had an important round of meetings with its Greek counterparts and knows that “Greece is an irreplaceable ally and a key ally of the United States in NATO”.

Similarly, the spokesperson added, Turkey was an important U.S. partner and an important ally in NATO, and Washington would like to see its partners cooperating to preserve peace and security in the region.

(ANA/ P. Kasfikis)