Türkiye ‘pleased’ with ‘recent positive atmosphere’ in ties with US: President Erdogan

WASHINGTON (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday praised the recent momentum in bilateral relations with the US.

“We are pleased with the positive atmosphere in Turkish-American relations in recent times,” Erdogan told some US think tank representatives at a roundtable meeting in New York.

Erdogan arrived in the US on Saturday to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

“Our differences of opinion with the American administration on some issues concerning our national security continue,” the president stressed.

Türkiye has long complained of the US working with the PKK and its offshoots on the pretext of fighting the ISIS. Turkish officials say that using one terrorist group to fight another makes no sense.

“We share our expectations with our American friends on every occasion to end the support given to the PKK, PYD, YPG and FETO,” Erdogan said.

The defense industry restrictions implemented by NATO ally America against Türkiye “negatively affect the sense of trust” between the countries, the president said, adding that the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program are “contrary to the spirit of alliance.”

In 2019, under then-President Donald Trump, the US suspended Türkiye from the F-35 program after objecting to its buying a Russian S-400 missile defense system, claiming the Russian system would endanger the fighter jets.

Türkiye has said repeatedly that there is no conflict between the two and proposed a commission to study the issue. Türkiye also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that its suspension broke the rules.

Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye, but also NATO.

Turning to economic relations, Erdogan said the bilateral trade volume with the US surpassed $30 billion in 2023.

“We believe that we can increase this figure to $100 billion,” he added.

– Türkiye closely following US presidential race –

On the presidential election in the US on Nov. 5, Erdogan said that Türkiye is closely following the race between Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“Regardless of who becomes president as a result of the elections, our view of America and our high-level dialogue in our relations will not change,” he added.

Stressing that Türkiye is one of NATO’s strongest allies, Erdogan said Ankara’s European Union membership bid continues.

“While we develop our cooperation with the Western world, we do not neglect the East,” he said, adding Ankara is determined to strengthen the basis for dialogue with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and ASEAN.

“We have taken critical steps in this regard recently…We will further advance our cooperation with different regional organizations with a Türkiye-centered approach that focuses on our country’s interests,” he added.