Halki Theological School raised in Erdogan–Trump Oval Office talks

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised his state would bash its portion regarding the reopening of the Halki Theological School, during his gathering astatine the White House with US President Donald Trump. He besides said that the issues of F-35 and F-16 combatant jets would beryllium raised successful the talks to follow.

“We will bash what is ours to do,” the Turkish president said, among different things, successful notation to the contented of the Halki School, stressing that helium would sermon the substance with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

“I will sermon the contented with Bartholomew when I return,” Erdogan told journalists soon earlier the two presidents’ one-on-one gathering began. In effect Trump stated to his Turkish counterpart that, “the Greek Orthodox Church was present (at the White House) and they would truly similar to person some help.”

The Turkish president besides referred to the contented of the F-35s, from the programme of which Turkey was expelled owed to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 aerial defence system, arsenic well arsenic the procurement of caller F-16s and the modernisation of the existing older fleet of Turkish F-16 combatant jets.

“I judge today we will person the accidental to sermon thoroughly the contented of the F-35s and F-16s, arsenic well arsenic the substance of Halkbank,” the Turkish state slope facing ineligible proceedings successful the US, accused of violating sanctions against Iran.

Asked whether helium intends to hold to the merchantability of F-35s to Turkey, Donald Trump replied: “I think helium will negociate to bargain whatever helium wants to buy.” He added that Erdogan “needs definite things and we request definite things and we will travel to a conclusion. You will cognize by the extremity of the day.”

Aerial view of the Theological School of Halki. Photo: iStock/asikkk

The US president besides stated, responding again to a related question, that if the gathering with Mr Erdogan is bully “we tin instantly lift” the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions.

Welcoming Erdogan to the Oval Office, Trump described his counterpart arsenic a “tough man,” who “does a bully occupation successful his country,” adding: “We some person very bully relations. Both trade and war play a very important relation successful our relations.”

He emphasised, however, that helium would similar to spot Turkey stop purchasing Russian oil. Turkey, on with Hungary and Slovakia, is among the main buyers of Russian oil. “I would similar him to stop buying lipid from Russia, arsenic agelong arsenic Russia continues its battle connected Ukraine,” Trump said to Erdogan.

Trump besides noted that Erdogan is “highly respected” some by Russian President Vladimir Putin and by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and “could exert large power if helium wanted. At present, helium maintains a very neutral stance.” “The champion happening helium could bash is not bargain lipid and state from Russia,” helium added.

Referring to developments successful Syria, an contented that Ankara strongly raises — calling for the integration of the US-backed Kurdish forces into the Syrian service and the subordination of the de facto autonomous Kurdish medication to the cardinal authorities successful Damascus — Trump spoke of Erdogan’s success successful Syria, saying that “he surely has a say,” while besides clarifying that akin requests had been made by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “They told maine to assistance the sanctions (on Syria) and I did. I wanted to springiness them the accidental to breathe, but President Erdogan is 1 of the radical liable here,” helium noted.

Erdogan’s visit to the White House is his archetypal since 2019, during Donald Trump’s erstwhile statesmanlike term, while helium had not received an invitation under Joe Biden’s presidency.