Brussels: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he held a “fruitful and sincere” meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels.
“We believe there is no problem that cannot be resolved in Turkey-US relations,” Erdogan added after holding his first meeting with Biden since his election.
Relations between the two NATO allies nosedived after Turkey s purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defence system that the US believes can be used to spy on Western defences.
Erdogan announced no progress on the S-400 dispute. Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey s military procurement agency for the purchase last year.
It also expelled Turkey from the F-35 programme under which Western allies produce the next-generation fighter jet s parts and secure its early purchasing rights.
“On the issue of S-400s, I told (Biden) the same thing I had in the past,” Erdogan said.
“I raised the issue of F-35s,” Erdogan said in a signal that he wanted Turkey admitted back into the programme.
“I told him what joint steps we can take on the defence industry.” AFP
