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Despite its tough rhetoric, Turkey seeks way out of pastor impasse

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is no problem with Washington that can’t be solved by focusing on the strategic partnership.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan arrives for a group picture at the BRICS summit meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 27, 2018. Gianluigi Guercia/Pool via REUTERS? - RC11D75C1B70

Ankara is trying not to show it by continuing with its defiant and dismissive rhetoric against Washington, but US Treasury sanctions against two Turkish Cabinet ministers for the continuing detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson have stung Turkey.

Despite its angry tone — and the “reciprocal” sanctions President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced against two US government officials — Ankara is now seeking a diplomatic way out of the crisis.

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