FILE PHOTO: U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, August 22, 2018. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Wednesday remarks by the U.S. National Security Adviser regarding Turkey’s economic situation were proof that the U.S. administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war.

In a written statement responding to an interview which John Bolton gave to Reuters, Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the U.S. administration’s most recent policies were at odds with the fundamental principles and values of the NATO alliance.

Turkey and the United States are embroiled in a deep dispute focused on a U.S. pastor being tried on terrorism charges in Turkey. The row has fueled a slide in the lira TRYTOM=D3, which has lost more than a third of its value against the dollar this year.

Bolton had said during a visit to Israel he was skeptical about the pledge of $15 billion of investment support for Turkey by Qatar’s Emir, which was “utterly insufficient to have an impact on Turkey’s economy”.

“His statement is proof that the Trump administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war,” Kalin said.

“The Trump administration has ... established that it intends to use trade, tariffs and sanctions to start a global trade war,” he said, pointing to similar disputes with Mexico, Canada, Europe and China.

“Turkey has no intention of starting an economic war with any party. It cannot, however, be expected to keep silent in the face of attacks against its economy and judiciary,” he said.

Kalin said Turkey would work with the rest of the world against restrictive and punitive measures.

“The U.S. administration’s most recent policies are at odds with the fundamental principles and values of the NATO alliance,” he added.