Ahead of his meeting with Biden, Erdogan launches Psywar

ANKARA – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that United States of America (USA) risks losing a valuable friend if you try to corner Turkey . This was revealed by Erdogan two weeks ahead of his first meeting with his US colleagues, Joe Biden .

The already strained U.S. -Turkish relations have deteriorated since Biden replaced the ally Erdogan , Donald Trump last January, with the new president highlighting Ankara’s dire human rights record.

When asked about Ankara-Washington relations in an interview with Turkish news agency TRT, Erdogan said: “Those who corner the Republic of Turkey will lose a valuable friend.” The New Arab, Wednesday (2/6/2021).

Erdoan also made the call over Biden’s historic decision to recognize the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a move that angered Turkey for rejecting the term.

“What is the reason for our tension (with the US)? The so-called Armenian genocide,” Erdogan said. “Don’t you have any other problems to deal with besides advocating for Armenia?” he said.

Also read: Officially, Biden Admits Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Empire

He also mentioned several issues that have strained US-Turkish relations since 2016, including Washington’s support for Kurdish militias in Syria that Turkey considers “terrorists”.

“If the United States is indeed our ally, should they side with the terrorists or with us? Unfortunately, they continue to support the terrorists,” he said.

Erdogan has previously indicated he intends to improve relations with Biden, saying last week that their meeting would herald a new era in US-Turkish relations.

At the same time Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, said he had always managed to work with people in the White House whether he was a Republican or a Democrat.

Also read: US Air Force Boss Candidates Promise to Stop F-35 Parts Production in Turkey

Erdogan’s aggressive stance comes ahead of the first meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14.

Previously, Biden chose not to rush into talking to the Turkish leader after taking office as president. He waited three months before calling Erdogan in April.

(ian)

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