TURKEY defied an anxious Washington yesterday by further delaying a decision on whether to allow American troops on its soil, even after the United States increased the multibillion-dollar aid package it is offering in return.

Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, failed to resolve the stand-off, which is threatening to wreck the Pentagon’s war plans by denying the US a launchpad from which to open a northern front against Baghdad.

He talked by telephone to Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Prime Minister, but the differences between the two sides remained even after the US increased by $1 billion to $27 billion (£17 billion) the size of the economic aid package that it is dangling before Ankara.

Robert Pearson, the US Ambassador, opened another day of brinkmanship by presenting Turkey with what was described as Washington’s final offer early in the morning. But by nightfall Mr Gul was in a meeting with President Sezer and had yet to respond. While giving no indication as to the timing of a parliamentary vote, which would be necessary to approve the US troops, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party, said that Turkey had not heard the answer that it wanted to hear.

The White House adopted a phlegmatic air in response to Ankara digging in its heels.

“Either an agreement will be reached or no agreement will be reached,” Ari Fleischer, President Bush’s spokesman, said. “Negotiations cannot stretch on indefinitely.”

But the cultivated nonchalance behind Washington’s “take it or leave it” stance masks deep anxiety that Turkey could be about to wreck US planning.

Four American ships carrying tanks and other heavy equipment for the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division are off the Turkish coast, waiting for clearance to dock. More than 20 others are expected to arrive shortly.

US officials say that they need a decision from Ankara in the next two days or they will have to redirect the equipment elsewhere.

Explore World News

• World Agenda

• Iraq News

• US & Americas News

• Europe News

• Middle East News

• Afghanistan News

• Asia News

• Africa News

• Ireland News

Times Recommends

• Would you live on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall?
• Wish you were here, says Iraq tourist board
• Russian policeman’s corruption plea to Putin