Erdoğan hails Biden's "positive" approach towards F-35 dispute

Speaking to reporters following the visit to Rome for the two-day G-20 Summit, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed in his remarks: he discussed the procurement of F-16s with U.S. counterpart Joe Biden, 'didn't witness any negative approach', hopes to conclude 'sensitive issue'.

Turkey was removed out of a U.S. program to buy F-35 combat planes while Turkish defense officials were sanctioned after the country bought Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. The U.S. says the Russian missiles pose a threat to the F-35 and strongly objects to their use within the NATO alliance.

Turkey wants to recover a $1.4 billion payment that it made before it was expelled from the F-35 program. Erdoğan has previously said the U.S. proposed selling F-16 fighter jets to make up for it.

"As you know, we have a payment of $1.4 billion. On this issue, we negotiated the procurement of F-16s. I have not seen any negative attitude from (Biden) in this regard," Erdoğan said.

The Turkish leader went on to quote Biden as saying: "As you know, the situation is fifty-fifty, but I will do my best."

Erdoğan said the two also discussed cooperation in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and the eastern Mediterranean where tensions between NATO allies Greece and Turkey - as well as neighboring Cyprus - have been ratcheted up over competing energy claims. Talks also focused on increased increased economic and trade cooperation, Erdoğan said.

Turkey denies that the Russian missile system poses a security risk, insisting that the S-400s could be used independently without being integrated into NATO systems. The Turkish president has also said his country could purchase a second Russian missile system, despite controversy surrounding the initial purchase.

Turkey and the United States also strongly differ over the role of YPG militants who are a key Washington ally in war-torn Syria. Turkey regards the YPG members as "terrorists" affiliated with bloody-minded PKK terrorist organization, and demands that Washington halt its support to the group.

"If we are allies in NATO, our partners in NATO should not attempt such a thing," Erdoğan said. He reiterated that Turkey was prepared to carry out another offensive inside Syria to chase YPG/PKK militants if the need arises.

"Turkey will conduct anti-terror cross-border operations whenever it is necessary. There is no stepping back from it, Erdoğan reiterated in his comments.


Erdoğan also announced that Turkey will share homegrown COVID-19 vaccine candidate TurkoVac with the entire world once production starts by the end of 2021.

"I told American, French counterparts how the establishment of the base in Alexandroupoli, Greece near Turkish border 'seriously disturbs' Turkey," Erdoğan said in a statement.

Erdoğan also said he decided against attending the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow after Britain failed to meet Turkey's demands on security arrangements.

"When our demands were not met we decided not to go to Glasgow," Erdoğan was quoted as telling reporters on his plane returning from Rome.

Earlier, the Turkish president said the US proposed the sale of F-16 fighter jets as compensation for Turkey's payment for the F-35s.

In 2019, Washington announced that it was taking Turkey out of the F-35 stealth fighter jet program over Ankara's purchase of the S-400, a Russian defense system it bought after its efforts to buy US Patriot missiles were rebuffed.

The US claimed the Russian system posed a safety risk. Turkey, however, stressed the S-400s would not be integrated into NATO systems, and thus pose no threat to the alliance or its armaments.

Ankara also repeatedly proposed setting up a commission to clarify the issue.

ERDOĞAN INTENSIFIES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS DURING G20 SUMMIT

Turkey's president held separate talks with world leaders during the G20 Leaders' Summit held in Rome on Oct.30-31.

After attending a family photoshoot on the first day of the summit, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a special session on the global economy and health.

Before the session, Erdoğan had a short talk with US President Joe Biden, outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

After the session, he held bilateral talks.

Erdoğan first met with EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen for a 30-minute talk. The closed-door meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Later, the Turkish president met Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. The 35-minute closed-door meeting was also attended by Çavuşoğlu and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, as well as Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister Lütfi Elvan, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Omer Celik.

The Turkish leader also met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for a 30-minute talk.

Erdoğan held another 30-minute closed-door meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo.

Following the talks, Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan attended a dinner which Italian President Sergio Mattarella hosted in honour of the leaders participating in the summit.

ERDOĞAN-BIDEN MEETING

On the second day of the summit, Erdoğan started his bilateral talks by meeting with US President Joe Biden. The meeting lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes.

During the meeting, expressing a common will for the further strengthening and advancing of the bilateral relations, the two leaders agreed on forming a joint mechanism in this direction.

In a positive atmosphere, bilateral relations and regional issues were discussed.

Mutual steps to be taken in line with the shared perspective on increasing the bilateral trade volume were discussed, and the basis of strategic partnership and NATO alliance was underscored.

The leaders also expressed satisfaction about mutual steps taken on climate change.

ERDOĞAN HOLD CLOSED-DOOR MEETING WITH MACRON

Erdoğan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a 50-minute closed-door meeting. He later met with European Council head Charles Michel for a 40-minute talk

The Turkish leader held his last meeting as part of the summit with Merkel. Olaf Scholz, the likely successor of Merkel, also joined her in the meeting with Erdoğan.

After the bilateral meetings, Erdoğan answered questions from reporters in a press conference.