The Presidents of Turkey and the United States, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Joe Biden, agreed to establish a common mechanism for improving and developing bilateral relations. The two leaders spoke in Rome as part of the G20 summit. The bilateral meeting lasted 1 hour and ten minutes, the Anatolian Agency informed. The meeting between Erdogan and Biden was held in an extremely positive atmosphere, a senior Turkish official was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The two leaders discussed steps to be taken to increase bilateral trade, the Turkish envoy said. They also discussed the partnership within NATO. They welcomed the reciprocal steps taken to combat climate change. The meeting, held behind closed doors, was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The meeting is seen as an important step in efforts to resolve differences between Ankara and Washington. Talks also took place days after the crisis with ten Western ambassadors to Ankara, including the US ambassador.
The US president reaffirmed the two countries’ defense partnership and Turkey’s importance as a NATO ally, but expressed US concern over the fact that Turkey has Russian S-400 systems, the statement said.
In response to Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems in 2019, Washington suspended Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter jets program.
The White House statement also said Biden had expressed his desire for co-operation between the two sides and the effective resolution of existing differences.
Biden and Erdogan also discussed the situation in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The meeting, held behind closed doors, was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The meeting is seen as an important step in efforts to resolve differences between Ankara and Washington.
Tensions between Washington and Ankara have deteriorated further this month after Erdogan threatened to expel the US ambassador and foreign diplomats from Turkey for calling for the release of philanthropist Osman Kavala. Erdogan later withdrew his threat, Reuters recalls.
Photo: Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey
