Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed confidence in the potential for cooperation between Turkey and the US during Donald Trump's new term as president. Erdogan stressed that although the two leaders have had differences in the past, the partnership between the two countries remains “unquestionable”, TRT Haber reported, quoted by BTA.
Erdogan's statement was made on his return from the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest, where the president discussed relations between Turkey and the US with journalists. He said he had invited Trump to visit Turkey in the hope that it would strengthen ties between the two countries. “He said good things about our country and I hope he will implement the invitation,” Erdogan added, expressing optimism about future cooperation.
Among the key issues facing Turkey and the United States are those regarding the F-35 fighter jets and the Russian S-400 missile systems. “Turkey's expectations from our ally are known. For us, the main problem is Palestine, and we are also facing the challenges of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis,“ he stressed. Erdogan expressed hope that with the support of the United States, solutions to these and other regional and global conflicts can be achieved.
The Turkish president indicated that he planned to maintain active telephone contact with Trump, especially on topics related to the Middle East, the demand for the withdrawal of American forces from Syria and the cessation of support for Kurdish militias linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Erdogan expressed his expectation that President Trump would also intervene in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "In the previous term, we maintained active telephone diplomacy with Trump and I expect these contacts to continue," he commented.
Ankara accuses the Kurdish militia "People's Protection Forces" (YPG) and its political wing "Democratic Union" (PYD) of having ties to the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU.