ROME (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden held talks with Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 assembly in Rome on Sunday amid a request from Turkey for F-16 fighter jets and rigidity over human rights.
A U.S. administration official mentioned on Saturday that Biden would warn his Turkish counterpart that any “precipitous” actions wouldn’t profit U.S.-Turkish relations and that crises must be prevented after Erdogan threatened to throw out the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and different overseas envoys for in search of the discharge of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.
Erdogan later withdrew his menace to expel the envoys.
Biden was anticipated to debate Turkey’s request to buy F-16 fighter jets, which U.S. lawmakers have opposed on the grounds that Turkey bought Russian missile defence techniques.
Biden and Erdogan posed for images earlier than their talks on Sunday. Requested if he deliberate to present Turkey F-16s, Biden mentioned they have been “planning to have dialog”.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; enhancing by David Evans)
