DAVID CAMERON made his latest diplomatic gaffe as he addressed a group of residents in the English town of Hove on Thursday.
Speaking on the topic of Turkish accession to the European Union, Cameron seemed to bluntly accuse Iran of possessing a nuclear weapon.
When outlining the benefits of Turkish EU accession, Cameron said Turkey would have “a very good political influence” on the UK and could help to “solve some of the world’s problems like the Middle East peace process and the fact that Iran has got a nuclear weapon.”
The blunder is the latest in a series of ill-received statements made by Cameron – leading some to say that, as the UK’s youngest Prime Minister in two centuries, he is beginning to show signs of his inexperience.
First, The British Prime Minister called his country the “junior partner” to the the USA, which ruffled a few domestic feathers. Then, speaking in Turkey a few days later he referred to Gaza a “a prison camp” – the timing and location for such a statement was condemned by those who felt it was exacerbating diplomatic strain between Turkey and Israel in the wake of the Mavi Marmara deaths.
Last week, Cameron caused a stir in Pakistan, when he seemed to imply that the country bred terrorism. He warned the Pakistan not to “tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror”.
The latest gaffe about Iran, a country at the centre of extremely sensitive diplomatic proceedings in relation to its nuclear programme, has been criticised as not only clumsy but as dangerous. It has led some commentators to question if Cameron is the new George W Bush of foreign policy blunders.
However, Cameron’s Downing Street Office said it was “perfectly clear” that the Prime Minister had been referencing to the pursuit of nuclear capabilities and that Cameron was simply speaking his mind.
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