03:03US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refused to comment on reports suggesting that Turkey had requested a BRICS membership, during a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday.
"I'm not going to comment on those reports other than to say that Turkey continues to be an important ally to the United States and with whom we work on a number of issues," Miller said after a reporter asked him about reports that Turkey could become the first NATO country requesting membership.
On Monday, a media report claimed that Turkey had already applied for BRICS membership although this was not confirmed or denied by Ankara.
The following day, Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey's governing Justice and Development (AK) Party, said that the 'process' for joining the BRICS group was 'in progress' and that "our president has already expressed various times that we want to become a member of BRICS".
Commenting on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin's visit to Mongolia, the spokesperson said that the US expected the Asian country to adhere to its commitment to 'the principles of the UN Charter' and 'the rule of law'.
“We understand the position that Mongolia is in, a sandwich between two much larger neighbours, but we do think that it is important that they continue to support the rule of law around the world," he said.
Mongolia is a member of the ICC which has a warrant out for Putin's arrest over alleged 'war crimes' regarding deportation of children in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it does not recognise the warrant, while the presidential spokesperson said "we don't have a problem on the agenda - with Mongolia specifically". Mongolia has not commented.
Miller went on to criticise a Venezuelan judge's decision to issue an arrest warrant for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claiming that the ‘arbitrary and politically motivated’ action demonstrated the ‘extraordinary length' to which Nicolas Maduro would go 'to try and maintain power'.
“I would note that this is not just the US that is condemning this arrest warrant, but also countries in the region. Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay have all condemned this unjustified arrest warrant," Miller stated.
“So, in coordination with our partners, we are considering a range of options to demonstrate to Maduro and his representatives that the illegitimate and repressive actions in Venezuela have consequences," he added.
According to media reports, the Venezuelan authorities accuse Gonzales of 'usurpation' of public duties, falsification of documents, instigation of disobedience and system sabotage as part of a criminal investigation into the July election results. Maduro had not commented personally at time of publication but has accused the opposition of trying to initiate a 'colour revolution' backed by the US, following his recent election victory.
Following the seizure of one of Maduro's aeroplanes in the Dominican Republic on Monday, flying it to Florida following what it called 'suspected violations' of export control and sanctions laws, Miller declared that the US enforced sanctions.
‘Turkey continues to be important ally’ - US State Dept spox dodges question on Ankara becoming 'first NATO member' of BRICS
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refused to comment on reports suggesting that Turkey had requested a BRICS membership, during a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday.
"I'm not going to comment on those reports other than to say that Turkey continues to be an important ally to the United States and with whom we work on a number of issues," Miller said after a reporter asked him about reports that Turkey could become the first NATO country requesting membership.
On Monday, a media report claimed that Turkey had already applied for BRICS membership although this was not confirmed or denied by Ankara.
The following day, Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey's governing Justice and Development (AK) Party, said that the 'process' for joining the BRICS group was 'in progress' and that "our president has already expressed various times that we want to become a member of BRICS".
Commenting on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin's visit to Mongolia, the spokesperson said that the US expected the Asian country to adhere to its commitment to 'the principles of the UN Charter' and 'the rule of law'.
“We understand the position that Mongolia is in, a sandwich between two much larger neighbours, but we do think that it is important that they continue to support the rule of law around the world," he said.
Mongolia is a member of the ICC which has a warrant out for Putin's arrest over alleged 'war crimes' regarding deportation of children in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it does not recognise the warrant, while the presidential spokesperson said "we don't have a problem on the agenda - with Mongolia specifically". Mongolia has not commented.
Miller went on to criticise a Venezuelan judge's decision to issue an arrest warrant for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claiming that the ‘arbitrary and politically motivated’ action demonstrated the ‘extraordinary length' to which Nicolas Maduro would go 'to try and maintain power'.
“I would note that this is not just the US that is condemning this arrest warrant, but also countries in the region. Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay have all condemned this unjustified arrest warrant," Miller stated.
“So, in coordination with our partners, we are considering a range of options to demonstrate to Maduro and his representatives that the illegitimate and repressive actions in Venezuela have consequences," he added.
According to media reports, the Venezuelan authorities accuse Gonzales of 'usurpation' of public duties, falsification of documents, instigation of disobedience and system sabotage as part of a criminal investigation into the July election results. Maduro had not commented personally at time of publication but has accused the opposition of trying to initiate a 'colour revolution' backed by the US, following his recent election victory.
Following the seizure of one of Maduro's aeroplanes in the Dominican Republic on Monday, flying it to Florida following what it called 'suspected violations' of export control and sanctions laws, Miller declared that the US enforced sanctions.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refused to comment on reports suggesting that Turkey had requested a BRICS membership, during a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday.
"I'm not going to comment on those reports other than to say that Turkey continues to be an important ally to the United States and with whom we work on a number of issues," Miller said after a reporter asked him about reports that Turkey could become the first NATO country requesting membership.
On Monday, a media report claimed that Turkey had already applied for BRICS membership although this was not confirmed or denied by Ankara.
The following day, Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey's governing Justice and Development (AK) Party, said that the 'process' for joining the BRICS group was 'in progress' and that "our president has already expressed various times that we want to become a member of BRICS".
Commenting on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin's visit to Mongolia, the spokesperson said that the US expected the Asian country to adhere to its commitment to 'the principles of the UN Charter' and 'the rule of law'.
“We understand the position that Mongolia is in, a sandwich between two much larger neighbours, but we do think that it is important that they continue to support the rule of law around the world," he said.
Mongolia is a member of the ICC which has a warrant out for Putin's arrest over alleged 'war crimes' regarding deportation of children in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it does not recognise the warrant, while the presidential spokesperson said "we don't have a problem on the agenda - with Mongolia specifically". Mongolia has not commented.
Miller went on to criticise a Venezuelan judge's decision to issue an arrest warrant for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claiming that the ‘arbitrary and politically motivated’ action demonstrated the ‘extraordinary length' to which Nicolas Maduro would go 'to try and maintain power'.
“I would note that this is not just the US that is condemning this arrest warrant, but also countries in the region. Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay have all condemned this unjustified arrest warrant," Miller stated.
“So, in coordination with our partners, we are considering a range of options to demonstrate to Maduro and his representatives that the illegitimate and repressive actions in Venezuela have consequences," he added.
According to media reports, the Venezuelan authorities accuse Gonzales of 'usurpation' of public duties, falsification of documents, instigation of disobedience and system sabotage as part of a criminal investigation into the July election results. Maduro had not commented personally at time of publication but has accused the opposition of trying to initiate a 'colour revolution' backed by the US, following his recent election victory.
Following the seizure of one of Maduro's aeroplanes in the Dominican Republic on Monday, flying it to Florida following what it called 'suspected violations' of export control and sanctions laws, Miller declared that the US enforced sanctions.