Biden congratulates Erdoğan on re-election in phone call

Erdoğan and Biden's meeting at a 2022 NATO summit in Madrid. (Photo: AA)

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Following President Erdoğan's election victory on Sunday, US President Joe Biden had a phone conversation with him, extending his congratulations.

Turkey's Presidency confirmed the call and stated that Biden praised Erdoğan's election success and expressed his well wishes for the people of Turkey in light of the results.

The statement further emphasized the significance of Turkey-US relations amidst regional and global challenges, with both leaders expressing their commitment to advancing cooperation on all fronts in the new era.

Regarding the phone call, the White House issued a brief statement highlighting the leaders' shared commitment to deepening cooperation and working closely together as partners to strengthen ties between their nations and peoples.

Biden and Erdoğan also discussed their shared goals of addressing regional and global challenges, including bolstering transatlantic security, which they intend to further discuss at the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

F-16s and Sweden's NATO membership

According to VOA, Biden raised the possibility of the US selling F-16s to Turkey during the phone call. In return, Erdoğan addressed Turkey's concerns about Sweden's NATO membership.

President Biden mentioned that they would delve into these topics in greater detail in the following week.

It is anticipated that Sweden will become the 32nd member of NATO prior to the alliance summit, scheduled to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, on July 11-12.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson congratulated Erdoğan on Twitter, emphasizing the significance of our collective security as a top priority.

During his election victory speech, President Erdoğan indirectly reiterated his criticism of the United States' collaboration with Kurdish groups in Syria, saying, "What were Kemal's [Kılıçdaroğlu, the opposiiton candidate] partners saying? 'We will align ourselves with the terrorist organizations in the south.'

"They went even further, taking steps to share the oil resources with these terrorists. Kamishli is just one example. They acted in unison with coalition forces." (AS/VK)