Erdogan: The Meeting with Biden Was Fruitful, Constructive
2 Min Read
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reveals the details of his meeting with US President Joe Biden and says that both sides agreed to cooperate in Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya.
-
Erdogan said that Turkey is ready to launch operations against organizations outside its borders if needed
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that he agreed with his American counterpart Joe Biden to intensify cooperation in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and the eastern Mediterranean and to strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
The Turkish President's statement came today, Sunday, during a press conference regarding his Sunday meeting with Biden on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
Erdogan was quoted as saying that he and Biden had negotiated the US delivery of F-16 fighters to Turkey.
"I did not feel like they had a negative attitude about it," he indicated.
He also stressed that his country will do what is necessary to combat the Kurdistan Workers' Organization (PKK), noting that Turkey is ready to launch operations against organizations outside its borders if needed.
On another note, the President confirmed that he had told Biden he was deeply disturbed by the establishment of a US military base in Greece.
He expressed that the meeting with Biden was fruitful and constructive and that Ankara and Washington were determined to establish a joint mechanism between the two in security, defense, trade, counter-terrorism, and regional issues.
For his part, when asked if he intends to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, Biden responded that they plan to have "constructive" talks with Erdogan in this regard.
Relations have been further complicated between the two sides amid Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile systems and the US support for Kurdish militants in Syria that Ankara views as a terror threat.
The purchase has thus complicated military cooperation between the two key members of the NATO alliance, as the US has also sanctioned Turkey over the deal.
Last month, Erdogan threatened to expel 10 Western ambassadors over their joint statement in support of a jailed Turkish civil society leader.
The Turkish President however later dropped his threat after the embassies issued public statements reaffirming their commitment not to interfere in Turkey's domestic affairs.
