On Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country will no longer facilitate US extradition requests until Washington hands over US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan says the cleric is a "terrorist" and holds him responsible for orchestrating a failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016.

Read more: Turkey denies plot to kidnap Gulen with former Trump official's help

"We have given the United States 12 terrorists so far, but they have not given us back the one we want. They made up excuses from thin air," Erdogan said at his presidential palace in Ankara.

Gulen has lived in the US since 1999

The US has denied repeated requests for Gulen's extradition, citing a need for evidence of his involvement in the coup. Erdogan vowed, "If you are not giving him to us, then excuse us, but from now on whenever you ask for another terrorist, as long as I am in office, you will not get them."

Coup, coup everywhere

The two NATO partners have had strained relations of late, stemming from a number of issues including President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and most recently the conviction of a Turkish banker from the majority state-owned Halkbank on charges that he broke US sanctions laws by conducting business with Iran. Erdogan criticized the conviction as part of a "political coup attempt" designed to damage Turkey, and organized by the CIA, FBI and Gulen.

The most serious issues of contention, however, have been US support for the Kurdish YPG militia and its PYD political arm in Syria - both of which Ankara says are terrorist organizations - and the failure to extradite Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu cited both issues on Wednesday when he warned relations could deteriorate further.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Jovial gestures belie multiple disputes May 16, 2017: Trump welcomes Erdogan to Washington, saying both presidents have a "great relationship" and would make it "even better." Erdogan congratulates Trump on his "legendary" 2016 election win but complains bitterly about US arming of the Kurdish YPG militia, claiming that its inclusion in the US-led campaign against IS in in war-torn Syria provides a cover for Kurdish separatism.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Melee becomes further irritant May 17: As Erdogan ends his visit, Voice of America video footage emerges showing his guards assaulting Kurdish protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington. A month later, US authorities issue arrest warrants for 12 members of Erdogan's security detail, who had long returned to Turkey. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the assaults breached "legitimate" free speech.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey First anniversary of coup attempt July 15, 2017: Turkey marks the first anniversary of the failed coup attempt. In a post-coup bid crackdown 50,000 people were arrested, accused of links to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, an Erdogan ally-turned-rival. Tens of thousands more face job suspensions. The refusal of the US to extradite Gulen has been a major sore spot in relations.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Turkey 'uneasy' about US arming of Kurdish militia August 23: US Defense Secretary James Mattis visits Ankara as the Pentagon stresses US commitment to bilateral relations and "honest dialogue." Mattis had just visited Iraq to assess the anti-IS campaign. Erdogan tells Turkish media that Turkey will thwart any attempt by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to establish a "terror corridor" in northern Syria through to the Mediterranean.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Turkey arrests US consulate employee October 5: Turkish authorities arrest Metin Topuz, a Turkish national employed at the US consulate in Istanbul. He is formally charged with espionage and collaboration in the 2016 coup attempt. The US embassy in Ankara subsequently says it is "deeply disturbed" by the arrest. It's reportedly the second since March, when a Turkish US consulate employee was arrested in Adana.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey US and Turkey suspend their respective visa services October 8-9: The United States suspends its issuance of non-immigrant visa applications to Turkish nationals, saying it has to "reassess" Turkish readiness to respect security at US diplomatic missions. Turkey suspends its visa services for US nationals and summons another staffer at the US consulate in Istanbul.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Attempts to make amends November 6: The US Embassy in Ankara announces that it is reinstating its visa program for Turkish tourists on a "limited" basis after receiving assurances from the government that no employees will be detained "for carrying out official duties." Shortly thereafter, Turkey confirms that it is also resuming visa services for US citizens one day before Prime Minister Yildirim visits Washington.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey At odds over Russian missiles December through August, 2018: In December, Turkey announced it would buy the Russian S-400 missile system, which is incompatable with NATO systems. The US Congress has included a provision in a defense bill that would cut Turkey out of the F-35 fighter jet program if it moves forward with the S-400 deal.

NATO partners adrift: USA and Turkey Release the pastor ... or else August 1, 2018: The US sanctions Turkey's interior and justice ministers over the continued detention of pastor Andrew Brunson. Brunson had been moved from prison to house arrest in late July, but that fell short of US demands for his immediate release and end to terror and espionage charges. Brunson was arrested almost two years ago.



Everyone is a suspect

In December of last year both countries lifted a three-month visa ban that was put in place after Ankara arrested two Turkish employees at a US consulate on charges that they had been involved in the coup attempt.

Turkey's post-coup crackdown has been severe, leading to the mass detainment and job dismissal of people accused by the government of having connections to what it calls the Gulen network. Some 55,000 people have been arrested in the purge that has followed the failed coup.

In a surprise decision handed down Thursday, Turkey's Constitutional Court ordered the release of two journalists, saying that their rights had been violated. Mehmet Altan and Sahin Alpay, who have been in jail for more than a year, were accused of having ties to terrorist organizations. An Istanbul penal court, however, later denied a request for the two to be released, in defiance of the higher court's order.

According to the Turkish non-profit press freedom website P24, 151 journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey, including German Journalist Deniz Yücel, who works for daily Die Welt.

Read more: Press freedom index: Turkey remains world's worst jailer of journalists

Watch video 00:33 Share Gulen would accept extradition to Turkey Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2gN4G Gulen would accept extradition to Turkey

js/ng (dpa, Reuters)