Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived Wednesday to The White House in Washington to meet his us counterpart, Donald Trump.
the Meeting comes at a time that is critical for the relationship between the two Nato-member countries.
Outside The White House protesting activists against Turkey’s offensive against kurdish forces in northern Syria.
Trump gave at the beginning of the meeting the Turkish president a warm welcome and described him as a good friend.
– We’ve been friends a long time, right back from the first day. We understand each other’s country. We understand where we come from, said Trump, who was sitting next to Erdogan in The Oval office.
– They are highly respected in their country and in the region, added Trump on Erdogan and his wife Emine.
In the us Congress there is widespread anger over Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria. Part politicians have the air the possibility of introducing sanctions against Turkey.
There are also tensions over the fact that Nato ally Turkey has bought a Russian air defence system.
The Turkish president also acknowledges, that the meeting takes place at a time when the relationship between the Nato member states, “undergo a painful process”.
After the meeting, says the us secretary of defense Mark Esper, that it is important to get the Turkey “back into the fold”. He acknowledges that the Turkish regime seems to remove itself further from the rest of the Nato offensive in Syria and the purchase of military hardware from Russia.
– We must have the Turkey back into the fold, he says to reporters in The White House.
