WASHINGTON, ANKARA (CNN)—President Donald Trump reiterated US support for Turkey as a “close, long-standing” partner, during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
It was the two leaders’ first conversation since Trump took office in January.
Trump welcomed Turkey’s efforts in the battle against ISIS, according to a White House readout of the conversation, and spoke of both countries’ commitment to fighting terrorism “in all its forms.”
The conversation lasted 45 minutes, local media reported.
But areas of ongoing tension were notably absent from the readout, including the latter’s extradition request for exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen and U.S. support for Kurdish groups in Syria.
“Unpleasant issues that aren’t mentioned include the future of Syria, who leads it, U.S. relations with Iran, and all these are important in terms of the future of Turkey-US relations,” Research Fellow at Sydney’s Lowy Institute Rodger Shanahan said.
“They’re trying to highlight the issues of common interest, which aren’t that many, which is why they mention the Islamic State.”
I’m so glad that Mr. Trump put Erdogan at ease. Now emboldened, Turkey will surely do something stupid. So no need for us to rush and do something wrong, just wait for the Turks to do something stupid. Trump will get mad, and Traunce.
I agree
It is time that Trump extradites cleric Fethullah Gulen
US should sever relationship with Turkey altogether. That’s not the country we would want to have a civil relationship!