US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were quick to congratulate Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his recent referendum victory, which effectively makes him Turkey’s sole ruler.
Putin’s call was expected, but Trump’s reaching out to Erdogan in this manner caught many by surprise. Trump’s call also came just as Erdogan was bracing for criticism from European leaders regarding the manner in which he is consolidating his authoritarian rule. In the end, Trump was the only Western leader to call and congratulate Erdogan.