Biden and Erdogan will meet at the G20 summit

President Biden met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the G20 summit in Rome on Sunday amid growing diplomatic ties and Turkey’s desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States.

A senior administrator who spoke to the media after the meeting in Rome said the two leaders had a “constructive conversation” and discussed a number of issues, including Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, the sale of F16s and human rights. .

The official was asked whether Biden supported the sale of military equipment to Turkey.

“I think the Turkish government and Erdogan, as well as public comments in the last few weeks, have made it very clear that Turkey wants to buy F16s. “The president has taken on the desire to own them, but he has made it very clear that we have a process to go through in the United States, and we are committed to continuing to work on that process.” –

The two NATO allies disagreed over Erdogan’s threat to expel the US ambassador to Turkey and 10 other Western ambassadors from the West for imprisoning philanthropist Osman Kavala, whom they consider a political prisoner.

Erdogan did not comply with his threat. .

Turkey has demanded that the United States sell 40 F-16 fighter jets to renew its air force, but US lawmakers have refused to do so because of Ankara’s acquisition of a defense system from Russia and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.

A senior administration official said he had raised the issue of human rights with President Erdogan.

“The president has shown his commitment to human rights in general, the rule of law and all these issues, and acknowledged that these are things he cares about. And these are issues that he will continue to raise and that his administration will continue to raise. “

This was the second meeting between Erdogan and Biden since he became president in January.

The two leaders met during a NATO summit in June. .

On the second day of his meeting in Rome, Biden is expected to meet with G20 leaders to discuss global supply chain problems that have delayed the delivery of goods to world ports.

He is scheduled to hold a press conference on Sunday afternoon. .

The president arrived in Rome on Friday for talks as the domestic agenda, which includes an infrastructure bill and a social spending package, stalled in Congress amid controversy between progressive and moderate Democrats.

Before attending the summit, Biden, a Catholic, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican for about 90 minutes and held a communion service at St. Patrick’s Church.

From Rome, Biden will attend a UN conference on climate change in Glasgow, Scotland.

He will return to Washington on Wednesday.

With post wires