Cozy Tillerson-Erdogan meeting in Turkey raises hope for warming ties
In a positive sign for US-Turkish ties, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held reportedly friendly and lengthy talks with Turkish leaders in Istanbul on the sidelines of a World Petroleum Congress.
![OIL-CONGRESS/ U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson chats with Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak during the opening ceremony of the 22nd World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, July 9, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX3AQXC](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2017/07/RTX3AQXC.jpg/RTX3AQXC.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=lVI6Hmck)
After a prolonged period of sharp tensions between NATO partners Turkey and the United States, there is budding if cautious optimism shared by officials on both sides that frayed relations may be on the mend.
Hopes of a thaw emerged this week when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Turkish leaders in Istanbul on the sidelines of a World Petroleum Congress, where the former ExxonMobil chairman was awarded a lifetime achievement prize for his career in the energy business.