Erdogan confident he can sway Trump to skip sanctions
The two presidents will meet at the G-20 summit to discuss a standoff over Turkey’s purchase of a Russian antiaircraft system that obliges the US government to introduce punishing economic sanctions on its NATO partner.
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed confidence on Thursday he will be able to forestall a showdown with the United States over Turkey’s purchase of advanced Russian weapons when he and President Donald Trump meet this week at the G-20 summit in Japan.
Turkey faces economic sanctions and other punitive measures by its NATO partner should it take delivery next month of the $2.5 billion S-400 Triumph missile system it says it needs for self-defense.
Erdogan also told the Japanese business daily Nikkei that Trump is still considering making his first visit to Turkey in July after they reach a breakthrough in the long-running dispute over the S-400s on Saturday during one of 10 tete-a-tetes the US president has scheduled in Osaka.
“I believe my meeting with US President Trump during the G-20 summit will be important for eliminating the deadlock in our bilateral relations and strengthening our cooperation,” Erdogan said in the interview published on Thursday. “I believe we will resolve the S-400 issue in line with our alliance and strategic partnership.”
