Reuters reports that President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Saturday Turkey and the United States can save their relationship. This after President Donald Trump threatened to slap sanctions on Ankara in a deepening of tensions between the NATO partners.
The two countries are at odds over a number of issues. They include Washington’s policy in Syria, Ankara’s quest for the extradition of a Muslim cleric blamed for failed coup in 2016 and Washington’s concerns about U.S. citizens and embassy staff detained in Turkey.
Ibrahim Kalin wrote in a column in pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper, “The relationship can be saved and improved provided that the U.S. administration takes Turkey’s security concerns seriously."