US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell did the rounds of senior civilian and military officials in Ankara yesterday, in what appeared above all to be an attempt to shore up bilateral relations severely dented by the Turkish parliament's refusal to permit US troops into the country early last month.By Nicholas Birch, in Ankara.
Turkish newspapers had been speculating on Tuesday that his visit might signal the start of renewed US efforts to secure full deployment on Turkish soil. In the event, though, the surprise summit yielded more limited results.
In a press conference held after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Mr Abdullah Gul, Mr Powell said Turkey had signalled its willingness to act as a logistical base for the US force - estimated to be 3,000 strong - that has been airlifted into northern Iraq over the past week.
"We have solved all the outstanding issues with respect to providing supplies through Turkey to those units that are doing such a wonderful job to keep the situation in northern Iraq stable," he said, in what appeared a pointed attempt to calm Turkish fears that Iraqi Kurds may be plotting an independence attempt.
Supplying the US forces began yesterday morning, when more than 30 Turkish trucks crossed into Iraq via the Turkish border post at Habur. Previously closed, the border had already been opened last weekend to allow aid convoys carrying water purification equipment, medicine and milk into northern Iraq, according to humanitarian agencies based near Habur.
Interviewed by NTV television after Mr Powell's departure, Mr Gul described the convoys as proof that "we are now incontrovertibly part of the coalition".
There is a further reason for Turkey going that extra mile. Until Tuesday, a US offer of up to $8.5 billion in credit to stiffen Turkey's tottering economy had appeared to come without strings attached. On his way to Ankara Mr Powell implied only full co-operation would be enough to ensure Washington's support.
But the biggest question mark arising from the summit was the issue of a possible Turkish incursion into northern Iraq. Mr Powell repeated earlier White House statements yesterday when he said "we have [the situation in northern Iraq] under control and therefore at the moment \ no need for any movement of Turkish forces across the border."