- Title: Erdogan arrives at Washington hotel ahead of Trump visit
- Date: 12th November 2019
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERING TO BLOCK MAIN BRIDGE IN BEIRUT, CHANTING (Arabic): 'REVOLUTION' RIOT POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF PROTESTERS PROTESTERS PLAYING MUSIC AND DANCING RIOT POLICE WALKING TOWARDS PROTESTERS PROTESTERS GATHERED ON ROAD VARIOUS OF GATHERED PROTESTERS CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE S
- Embargoed: 26th November 2019 23:28
- Keywords: Tayyip Erdogan Willard Hotel Erdogan arrival Trump-Erdogan meeting Turkey-U.S. relations Turkish president
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B58H3K7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Washington on Tuesday (November 12) a day before his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has openly complimented the Turkish leader and his combative ruling style, calling him "a friend" and "hell of a leader."
Such fondness from Trump for Erdogan is seen by many as the only reason why relations between Turkey and the United States have not completely collapsed, having soured severely over their disagreements on a host of issues.
Washington and Ankara hit a new crisis point last month over Syria, after Erdogan began a cross-border incursion against America's Kurdish allies and upended the U.S. presence there. Months earlier, the United States was livid over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defense systems.
Turkey shrugged off threats of U.S. sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not imposed any sanctions.
The move infuriated the U.S. Congress, whose anger toward Turkey deepened following Ankara's offensive into Syria to drive out the Kurdish militia, Washington's main partner in the fight against Islamic State.
The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a sanctions package to punish Turkey over its Syria operation while key members of the Senate, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham, have vowed to advance it if Ankara endangers Kurds.
The House has also voted in favor of a non-binding resolution recognizing as genocide the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago, for the first time, angering Ankara. Some lawmakers on Monday asked Trump in a letter to rescind the invitation to Erdogan.
Erdogan has managed to avoid sanctions so far, but on Sunday, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the threat was real.
(Production by Vanessa Johnston) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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