Differences on terror mark visit by Turkey’s president
Erdogan wants U.S. to expel religious leader blamed in failed coup
The president of WASHINGTON Turkey lavished praise on President Trump at the White House Tuesday — but then exposed deep differences over how to fight terror in the region.
Congratulating Trump for “the legendary triumph” of his presidency, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump’s election “has led to the awakening of a new set of aspirations and expectations and hopes in our region.”
But he also made two stern demands as the two addressed reporters before sitting down for lunch. Erdogan pressed for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a religious leader who the Erdogan government blames for an attempted coup last year and now lives in exile in Pennsylvania.
“As I have previously done so, I have been very frankly communicating our expectations with regard to the Fethullahist terrorist organization, which we have notified our friends of their involvement in the failed coup of July the 15th in Turkey,” Erdogan said.
And he protested Trump’s recent decision to arm a Kurdish militia group against the Islamic State. Turkey views the group — known as People’s Protection Units or the YPG — as a terrorist group itself.
“There is no place for the terrorist organizations in the future of our region,” Erdogan said. Giving those groups consideration “will never be accepted,” he said, “and we should never allow those groups to manipulate the religious structure and the ethnic structure of the region making terrorism as a pretext or an excuse.”
Despite the awkwardness of a new controversy hanging over the meeting — the Monday night reports that Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to Russian diplomats in their Oval Office sitdown — it appeared cordial, at least by outward appearances. It’s been a relationship that President Barack Obama often found frustrating, as Erdogan consolidated power and cracked down on dissent even while helping the U.S. fight terrorism in neighboring Syria.
Human rights groups and a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged Trump to press Erdogan on human rights, saying the regime has used sweeping emergency powers to stifle free speech and quash democratic opposition. “The United States must be candid and consistent in our support of democratic values and respect for human rights for the sake of Turkey’s future and our longterm interests in the region,” said a group of 17 senators led by Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
But Trump has prioritized the Islamic State campaign in his relations in the Middle East, and has preferred to address human rights quietly and through back channels. Trump was also the first Western leader to congratulate Erdogan last month when the Turkish president won a referendum consolidating his power.
Trump’s first meeting with Erdogan also comes as he’s set to visit the region on his first foreign trip as president — first to Saudi Arabia and then to Israel and Vatican City in what’s being billed as a tour of the three great Abrahamic religions.
“The United States must be consistent in our support of democratic values and respect for human rights for the sake of Turkey’s future.” Statement by 17 senators on human rights in Turkey